Haryana has skewed distribution of doctors

CHANDIGARH: There is a serious dearth of doctors in Haryana. Jind is the worst affected district in Haryana because of shortage of 135 doctors followed by Bhiwani with a scarcity of 132 doctors and Hisar of 114 doctors. On the contrary, Panchkula, the most preferred district, has an excess of 17 senior medical officers (SMOs) than its sanctioned strength of 23.

The total sanctioned strength of doctors in Haryana is 3,491 including 510 SMOs and 2,981MOs. But as many as 781 posts are lying vacant of which 66 posts are of SMOs and 715 of MOs. Jhajjar and Kurukshetra districts have three SMOs over their sanctioned strength and Gurgaon and Karnal have one excess SMO each.

As per the health department’s records, a total of 28 SMOs and 241 MOs are on deputation with the Chandigarh administration, in Delhi, World Health Organization, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) at Rohtak, in medical colleges and medical education department. Some of them are also undergoing post graduation courses and are not available for clinical duties.

The state health department has already initiated the process to fill up 662 vacant posts of doctors. In the recent cabinet meeting held on June 1, a sanction to de-reserve 241 posts of doctors which were lying vacant for years as the government was not able to get candidates from scheduled caste and ex-servicemen category has been granted. These posts would now be advertised for general category. To overcome the deficiency of doctors for clinical duties, the health department has already reemployed 81 doctors who had retired after attaining the age of 58 years.

Health minister Anil Vij has warned around 200 doctors on leave without permission that they should either join back without delay or resign before any legal action is initiated against them.