Despite Rs 60,000 pm pay, physicians don't go to rural areas, laments Maha Health Minister

Mumbai: The issue of doctor vacancies at government-run hospitals as well as primary health centres was recently raised in the Maharastra Legislative Assembly with the state Health minister apprising the number of vacant posts at various institutions.

There are 913 vacant posts of doctors in government-run hospitals and medical centres in Maharashtra, Health Minister Rajesh Tope told the Legislative Assembly on Friday.

During a discussion during the Question Hour, Tope said in the next three months, the government will fill up 574 of these vacancies - 304 through direct recruitment and 270 by promotion.

He lamented that despite decentralisation of the recruitment process where doctors can be appointed by district collectors, CEOs of Zilla Parishads (ZPs) or civil surgeons at a pay of Rs 60,000 per month, physicians once selected do not work for long in rural areas.

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP suggested taking bond from medical students at the time of admission that they will work with the government for certain years after completing studies.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that not finding enough MBBS medicos to serve at its rural areas, the state of Maharashtra was moving to appoint Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree holders at health officers Group-A post in primary health centres (PHCs) located in the peripheral areas. 

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In reply to another question, Tope said incentives could be considered for medical professionals working in tribal-dominated districts.

The minister said his department is working to upgrade existing trauma centres and setting up new ones along the highways to provide quick medical assistance to accident victims.

Express dissatisfaction over the functioning of trauma centres, he said a committee has been set up to suggest ways to improve their operations.

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