C'garh to offer special package to doctors in Naxal-hit areas

Raipur, Aug 8: To overcome the acute shortage of doctors in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit regions, the state government is working on a "special package" to offer certain facilities, besides lucrative salary, to the specialists for their posting in such areas.

"Unlike typical procedure of the appointment, we are trying to bring more flexibility in the recruitment of doctors for the sensitive areas. PHFI (Public Health Foundation of India) and UNICEF have been roped in to work with the health department for the purpose," state health services Director Dr Kamalpreet Singh told PTI. It will be a dedicated package for them which will not only provide a handsome salary, but also ensure other facilities like helping doctors in their further studies, better accommodation, and future appointments.

The package will be provided for a period of 2-3 years, Singh said, adding, drafting of the plan will be started within a month. Notably, previous attempts by the state government to appoint doctors in the conflict areas failed to serve the purpose following which the step has been taken in this direction.

The recruitment process was initiated around six times in the last two years for doctors in Naxal-hit regions, but only 10-15 per cent vacancies were filled. The government had also announced Rs 1 lakh plus salary per month package to them, but the efforts went in vain, a senior health department official said.

PTI