Acute shortage of government doctors in Jharkhand: Minister

Dumka (Jharkhand), Feb 3 (PTI) Jharkhand Health MinisterHemlal Murmu today said there was an acute shortage ofdoctors in government hospitals in the state.

"Only 190 students pass out from the three medicalcollege hospitals in the state every year as against therequirement of at least 3000. We have decided to increase thenumber of medical seats, and have already approached theMedical Council of India in this regard," Murmu said.

Interacting with newsmen after JMM chief and UPACoordination Committee chairman Shibu Soren laid thefoundation stone for a 500-bed hospital worth Rs 169 crore atTeliyachak near here, Murmu said the state had requested HeavyEngineering Corporation, Central Coalfield Limited and DamodarValley Corporation to set up medical college hospitals.

Health Secretary A K Sarkar, who was also present, saidthe state had only one thousand doctors in governmenthospitals presently.

"We have decided to increase from 90 to 150 seats inRajendra Institute of Medical College Hospital in Ranchi and50 to 100 in the medical college hospitals situated inJamshedpur and Dhanbad," Sarkar added.