Two days long 23rd. general meeting of Himachal Pradesh Doctors Association was held at Atal Bihari Mountaineering Institute Manali today in Manali. Health Minister Dr Rajeev Bindal preside over the meeting and said that that Govt., would soon start the process of recruitment of 400 doctors in the state, out of which 300 would be on regular basis and 100 posts on contractual basis. Addressing the doctors gathered from all over the state he said that Dhumal Govt. is spending Rs 765 crores on health sector, which is an increase of 330 crores than the previous years. Bindal said that to meet the shortage of doctors in Himachal Govt., has decided to increase PG seats raising to 81 in IGMC, and 29 in Tanda Medical college. Minister told that to fill up the vacancies of PG seats, Govt is pondering over to extend one more chance by calculating in aggregate the marks of test and MBBS. He said that till now 17 nursing and 12college has been opened by Government in the medical line. He expressed hope that ESI medical college which is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.734 crores would get ready by the end of 31st December. He said that our Government targets to produce 450 doctors each year in the state so that persisting problem of doctors will solved forever. He stressed upon the doctors to develop the work culture with dedication and always not the money as motivation force. Govt., is giving an attractive pay package but doctors also should have firm commitment and obligation to serve the society.

Earlier Director Health Vinod Pathak welcomed the chief guest. Dr. Jivanand Chauhan General secretary of the association submitted the charter of demands to Health Minister and urged to solve the pending cases on priority basis. At the last occasion BMO Dr. Bishan Dass Shashni thanked Minister and all doctors present there. Prominent among present were SDM Manali, Director Mountaineering Institute Randhir Salhuria, ZP vice president Dhaneshwari Thakur and other specialist doctors.

Mohan Lal Relingpa