BHUBANESWAR: Worried over scarcity of doctors, the state government has begun goading public sector undertakings and private players into expediting work on their medical college projects so that admission could start next academic session.
Odisha has eight medical colleges - three state-run, four private besides the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) - with total intake strength of 900 to MBBS courses. AIIMS in Bhubaneswar began admission this year with 50 students. The government believes it cannot overcome doctors' shortage unless some of the proposed medical colleges become functional.
A large number of MBBS pass-outs shy away from joining government jobs for reasons like lack of treatment facilities, absence of proper accommodation and an 'opaque' transfer policy. Officers said many doctors after joining the government 'abscond' or do private practice.
The government has listed 250 doctors as 'absconding'. But the actual number could be more. In periphery hospitals, doctors are hardly seen. They don't remain present in hospitals even for a few hours and can often be seen doing private practice. The government does not dare to suspend them because it could mean 'double bonanza' for doctors in the shape of subsistence allowance plus an opportunity to work elsewhere. There are now 3,500 doctors on the government roll as against 4,300 sanctioned posts. The three state-run medical colleges have 1,100 doctors while nearly 270 posts are vacant.
"We plan to recruit 470 doctors soon. Steps are being taken to qualitatively address the health care sector," health secretary Pradipta Mohapatra told TOI. On the absconding doctors, he said, "The government will initiate strong action against them."
Mohapatra said over a dozen new medical colleges are lined up for the state. "We hope by 2014, a couple of them would be ready," he said. The intake capacity in the three government medical colleges will be increased from 100 to 150 each, while AIIMS is expected to admit 150 students next year, he added. Central PSUs like NTPC, MCL and Nalco have also decided to set up medical colleges. "The government has agreed to allow Sundargarh district headquarters hospital for use by NTPC medical college. The medical college proposed by MCL is awaiting forest clearance,," Mohapatra said.
Official sources said the medical college, planned at Jaring in Kalahandi by a Tamil Nadugroup, is nearing completion. It is likely to admit 100 students next session.
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