In the seventh annual function of the Himachal chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) at Nahan, Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said that the state government will soon fill vacant posts of nurse and paramedical staff in various medical institutions.

He said the government was giving a special emphasis on strengthening health services in the state and services of private medical practitioners would be availed though the IMA to deal with the paucity of doctors. He added that these doctors would be paid an allowance for rendering services in various government hospitals of the state. The cadre of medical practitioners has also been enhanced from 1598 to 1698 to ensure presence of doctors in various hospitals.

Health Minister said the government had already begun the process to recruit 100 doctors and 50 per cent of the recruitments would be made through the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission while the remaining would be deputed on contractual basis.

Minister also lauded the efforts of the Himachal chapter of the IMA and said the association was taking necessary steps to change itself in view of changing medical scenario and this was having a positive bearing on the health sector in the state. Thakur said after the introduction of the Clinical Establishment Act by the Government of India, the state government, too, had implemented its directions to check the entry of non-professional people in the field.

Former MLA Nahan Kush Parmar, Dr Kulbhushan Sood, Director, Health Services, newly elected president of the Himachal Chapter of the IMA, Dr Peter Dsouza, SDM Jyoti Rana were also present on the occasion.