5,000 appointments in Assam's health sector on single day

Guwahati, Feb 9 (UNI) In what is being touted as the largest ever single induction in the government-run health sector, the Assam government will appoint about 5,000 people on March two.

Informing this at a press conference here today, state Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma said, " The meeting shall take place at Judges Field in city on March two, where Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will hand over the appointment letters. " " This would perhaps be the single largest induction in the health sector in the country, " he said adding, " We are planning another 5,000 new appointments in the next fiscal if we can get the financial approval. " " All the new appointments are for the rural areas, " he said.

The new appointments would include 100 MBBS doctors, 50 Ayurvedic doctors, 1,000 GNM nurses, 2,000 ANM nurses, 150 pharmacists, 500 laboratory technicians, 500 accountants and 500 surveillance workers. Appointments for several grade IV posts, of which interviews are in process, would also be issued at the same meeting.

The results of all the interviews conducted so far would be declared from February 15 onwards, after the recruitment process had started about three months ago.

On the transparency in the recruitment process, the Minister said, " All recruitments have been done through written tests and hence, no controversy has risen. There would be no legal hurdles. " Dr Sharma said these appointments are part of the budget announcements made for the Health department in the last budget, adding all budget announcements for the department had been fulfilled.

" If the department can manage financial approval, we plan to recruit another 6,000 people to take health service right up to the char and tea garden areas, " he added.

He also informed that upgrading Guwahati Medical College and Hospital to a multi-specialty one was also in process and Medical Council of India (MCI) have been approaching for clearance. " Earlier the GMCH earned about Rs 25 lakh per month, which has now risen to Rs 50 lakh per month. This itself indicates the hospital's turnover and people's renewed confidence in the government machinery, " Dr Sharma added.

UNI SG SJC/src1359