In U’khand, 40% posts of docs vacant: RTI
QUERY When it comes to the hilly dists, healthcare is in a shambles
NAINITAL: Over 40 per cent of the sanctioned posts of doctors in the state are lying vacant, the state government has said in a response to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The RTI application was filed by activist Gurvinder Singh Chadha, who had sought to know the number of doctors working in the state and the number of posts that are lying vacant.
Against the sanctioned strength of 2,849 doctors in the state, which includes 2,716 PMHS (provincial medical health services) doctors and 133 dental doctors, about 1,100 posts are lying vacant, the government said.
The government said there are currently 1,941 doctors employed in the state — 1,545 are regular doctors, 156 contractual, and 240 doctors have signed a bond to work in rural areas.
The RTI response also reveals that 10 doctors have moved an application for their resignation.
About the recruitment of the doctors this year, it says that through a notification issued on March 16, 2018, 478 doctors were recruited — 49 of whom didn’t respond.
O n September 13, their recruitment was cancelled and accordingly on September 19, 46 doctors were recruited.
Activist Chadha said the replies to his RTI queries makes it evident that the condition of the healthcare in the state, especially in hilly areas, is “poor”.
“There may be a significant number of doctors in the main town and state capital, but when it comes to the interiors of the hilly districts, healthcare is in shambles.
So many patients and pregnant mothers suffer when they don’t get the right health services in their areas. I had filed a case in this regard with the state’s human rights commission two years ago, which is still being heard,” he said.
Chadha said it is the duty of the state government to attract more doctors who are ready to work in the rural areas — either through incentives or other means . “Right now, the number of doctors is quite less,” he said.
Dr TC Pant, director general, health and family welfare, said that the main problem in the state’s health sector was that doctors were “not willing to serve in rural areas”.
“Most doctors are postgraduates. They get better packages in the corporate sector.
Also, they spend a lot of time in their studies. So they are not attracted to serve in rural areas. We can’t force anyone to join to work in rural areas.”
Dr Pant said the government recruits doctors through three channels — through recruitment board, bonded doctors from medical colleges, and through walk-in interviews.
“We make appointments, but it is up to the doctors whether they join or not.”
He said the health department had sent a forwarded a proposal to the state government to increase the salary of contractual and bonded doctors at par with the regular doctors to make them interested to work in rural areas.
“The HC has also directed the state government to provide bonded salaries at par with the regular medical officer ”, he said.
On November 22, Uttarakhand high court directed the state government to pay salary to the doctors serving in remote areas at par with the regularly appointed medical officers within ten weeks.