Himachal to recruit 100 doctors through walk-in interviews

Himachal Pradesh will recruit 100 doctors through walk-in interviews to overcome their shortage in the state, Health Minister Kaul Singh said.

The cabinet at its last meeting gave nod to recruit the doctors on priority, the minister informed the assembly. “A total of 198 doctors are currently doing post-graduation. We will recruit 100 doctors from them this year and the same number next year,” he said.

Blaming the previous BJP government for not taking much initiative to fill the vacant posts of doctors in its regime, Kaul Singh said the state is facing an acute shortage of doctors, especially specialists, particularly in rural areas.

To tide over the problem, he said the government has already increased the salary of graduate doctors from Rs. 26,200 to Rs. 40,000 and postgraduate ones from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 65,000.

The minister said the previous government (2008-12) recruited 453 doctors through the Rogi Kalyan Samiti but 169 soon resigned. Now only 284 doctors are serving.

The minister said the state is also facing shortage of 844 male health workers and 171 female health workers till date.