Bhubaneswar: Nearly 30% of doctor positions in Odisha remain vacant, Health & Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling informed the state assembly on Monday.
In a written reply to a question from BJD leader and Chandabali MLA Byomakesh Ray, Mahaling said that the total sanctioned number of doctors in the state is 15,793, including 8,793 duty posts and 7,000 Leave Training Reserve Medical Officer (LTRMO) positions. Out of these, 9,826 doctors are currently in service, leaving 5,967 posts unfilled.
The minister provided a break-up of the vacant positions, saying 19 doctors have been appointed on an ad-hoc basis, 1,224 on a contractual basis, four through the Corpus Fund, and 113 through the District Mineral Fund (DMF).
Addressing the situation at the Chandabali Community Health Centre (CHC) in Bhadrak district, Mahaling said vacant posts for specialists in the Women and Child (Obstetrics & Gynecology) Department are being filled, as far as possible, through counselling of doctors returning after completing Postgraduate (P.G.), Super Specialty (S.S.), or Senior Residency (S.R.) programs.
He added that the state is taking steps to fill other vacant doctor positions through recruitment by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) and departmental contractual appointments.
