2,956 doctors against 4,856 health centres in Punjab

Chandigarh, Mar 9 (UNI) Admitting the severe shortage of doctors in dispensaries and hospitals in Punjab, the state government today clarified that as many as 1,457 posts of medical officers were lying vacant in the Health department.

Informing this in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today, Health Minister R C Dogra stated that there were 1,336 dispensaries, 484 primary health centres and 61 civil hospitals in the state.

Besides, the vacancies of doctors, the other number of vacant posts included 255 pharmacists, 503 nurses, 12 assistant matrons, five nursing superintendents, 50 radiographers and 103 block extension educators.

The Health minister added that the government had already chalked out a strategy to fill up the vacant posts as per the requirements.

Giving an explanation during the separate call attention motions, the Health minister stated that the government was taking steps to survey certain areas where there was a fear of the outbreak of Hepatitis, jaundice and other infectious diseases.

UNI PS VD VC1913