Uttarakhand Government to Recruit 300 Doctors Amid Dismissals
Uttarakhand's Health System Enhancement
The Uttarakhand state government is actively working to improve its healthcare system by planning to hire an additional 300 doctors. This decision comes after the termination of 56 bond-holding doctors who had been absent for an extended period. Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, the State Health and Medical Education Minister, announced that recently, 220 medical officers were appointed in the Provincial Medical and Health Services cadre and assigned to remote health centers across the state. He emphasized that there are approximately 300 vacant doctor positions in the department, and officials have been directed to formally request the Uttarakhand Medical Services Selection Board to expedite the recruitment process.
The education minister reiterated the government's commitment to enhancing healthcare in the state. He mentioned that doctors are being deployed to health units in remote areas to ensure that residents receive better medical care at nearby facilities. Furthermore, the government is prepared to take action against personnel who neglect their duties.
Dismissal of Absent Doctors
Dr. Rawat explained that the government had previously instructed officials to address the issue of 234 absent bond-holding doctors who graduated from government medical colleges last month. Out of these, 178 doctors returned to their positions after receiving notices, while 56 doctors ignored the final warning and were subsequently dismissed. The Director of Medical Education has been tasked with recovering the bond amounts from all absent doctors as stipulated in their agreements.
Consequences of Contract Non-Compliance
In Uttarakhand's government medical colleges, MBBS students are charged a nominal fee under a bond agreement. Upon completing their MBBS, these students are obligated to serve for five years in medical units located in the state's hill districts. Failure to fulfill this requirement results in the need to pay the specified bond amount and obtain a no-objection certificate from the department before their educational certificates can be released. There are provisions in place to recover the bond amount from doctors who do not adhere to the contract terms.