Times of India: Jaipur: Monday, March 19, 2018.
Government
jobs are the most sought after, or so one believes. An RTI has revealed that
more than 40% of MBBS doctors who cleared the examination for medical officers
at government hospitals, did not join duty. According to the government’s reply
on the RTI filed by one Nikita Jangid, the state government has announced
recruitments for medical officers four times since September 2014.
The state has
requirement of 6,000 medical officers and is reeling under a shortage of 1,400.
However, attempts to fill the posts seem futile. In 2016, the state government
had selected doctors on 1,170 posts in 2016. Of these, 579 joined the duty
while 591 chose not to. After a gap of two years, the health department this
month announced recruitment of MBBS doctors on 894 posts. “We have advertised
894 posts for medical officers this month,” said Dr RS Chhipi, additional
director (gazetted), health department.
“Government
is not giving posting to candidates on places of their choice. Also, basic
amenities like electricity, water and facilities like security and education
for their children are not being provided,” said Dr Jitendra Bagria, a public
health management expert.
He said that
the biggest reason for not joining government job is that there is no certainty
of getting pre-PG incentives because every year the government is redefining
definition of remote and difficult areas. “The MBBS doctors posted in remote
and difficult areas get incentive marks they secure in NEET pre-PG exams for
getting admission in PG medical courses. If they get posting in community
health centres and primary health centres which do not fall in remote and
difficult areas, they would prefer not joining the posting,” said Bagria.
Health
officers are posted at primary health centres, community health centres to take
care of patients. Also, they help the government in improving health indicators
by encouraging immunization, maternal and child care.
.JPG)
.JPG)
