The State administration has started the process to create a separate cadre for the specialist doctors in the State health department. A proposal in this regard would be brought up in the meeting of the State cabinet soon. Presiding over a review meeting of the health department on Tuesday, the health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that in view of shortage of specialist doctors a separate cadre for specialist doctors would be created and their retirement age would be increased to 65 years. He directed that for better operation of the schemes under the National Health Mission (NHM), 883 posts vacant at various levels should be filled. Posts of medical officers, staff nurses, lab technicians, specialist doctors, Ayush Medical officers, pharmacists, counsellors, social workers, midwifery and educators are vacant in NHM. The minister added that family members of the deceased employees would be appointed on compassionate grounds. He also directed the officers to start the process of departmental promotions on the vacant posts.
The minister expressed his displeasure at the slow pace of expenditure in the budget allotted for NHM. Out of the allotted budget of Rs 831.38 lakhs for NHM during the year 2022-23 only Rs 460.40 lakh could be spent. The minister directed that a detailed working plan should be prepared for 100 per cent usage of the available budget of NHM.
The health secretary Deependra Chaudhary, Additional secretary Arunendra Singh Chauhan, Amandeep Kaur, director general health (DG) health Dr Vinita Shah and others were present on the occasion.
