MYSURU: Health minister K Sudhakar on Wednesday said the government was likely to offer quicker promotions and incentives for doctors and specialists serving in rural areas in its bid to attract more talent to semiurban and outback areas of the state.
Now, the state considers six years of service for a promotion. It will be cut to three years after making necessary changes to the laws. TNN
Minister: As per WHO, 70% doctors work in country’s urban areas
On the sidelines of a convocation organised by a private institute in Mysuru, the minister said the government would take a decision in this regard soon and added most graduating doctors were reluctant to take up non-urban postings.
On government-quota medical students moving the Karnataka high court against the government’s 12-month mandatory rural service, Sudhakar said doctors must work for the country with the motto of service and appealed to students to withdraw their petition.
He said doctors and specialists must be ready to serve in rural areas, where 70% of India’s population lives. “Unfortunately, as per the World Health Organisation, 70% of doctors are working in urban areas in the country,” he added.
As part of measures to strengthen healthcare facilities and related research and development activities, the minister said the government is planning ‘a robust healthcare system’ by onboarding private and public healthcare providers. Four new medical colleges will soon be commissioned — Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hospital on Infantry Road in Bengaluru, Chikkaballapur, Haveri and Yadgir.
To address the shortage of medical personnel, the government is planning to open more nursing and paramedical colleges at government hospitals. Measures have been taken to fill 2,500 posts of doctors, nurses, and other paramedical staff, he added.