MP to recruit 500 female doctors

Bhopal, July 30 (UNI) Faced with severe shortage of female doctors, particularly in rural areas, the Madhya Pradesh government is planning to recruit 500 female doctors shortly under a special project, Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi told the Assembly today.

The state government has sought the Centre's assistance to meet the acute shortage of doctors in interior areas, he said, adding the opposition Congress should also impress upon the Centre to approve the project.

He said after a gap of 17 years, the state government had initiated the process to recruit 200 Ayush doctors. After three months special training, they would be posted, Mr Vishnoi said during the question hour.

Replying to a question raised by Ms Sunita Bele, he said the government was trying to fill up vacancies of doctors through contract appointments. About 30 per cent posts were vacant, he said, adding the vacancies were mainly in posts reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

The Health Minister claimed the number of institutional delivery in the state had gone up from 26 to 56 per cent and efforts were on to achieve 70 per cent target shortly.

He agreed to consider a suggestion to ensure at least weekly visit of female doctors in health centres at block headquarters.

UNI