Record! 266 specialist doctors recruited in two days

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, July 9: The Assam Health department has claimed to have broken all previous records, recruiting 266 specialist doctors in the six medical colleges and rural health centres within two days.

On July 7, the department recruited 196 specialists, and on the following day, it recruited another 73.

"This has fulfilled a long-standing requirement of these institutions," the department said in a statement.

More than 250 posts had been lying vacant in the medical colleges. The Medical Council of India (MCI), which conducts regular inspections, had warned these institutions of de-recognition due to the shortage of specialists.

“As a consequence, specialty departments in a number of hospitals which could not be started due to lack of doctors, will now be able to start functioning and various kinds of surgery, radiological investigations and laboratory investigations will become easier and better,” the statement said.

Altogether 338 students have passed the postgraduate fil examitions successfully this year. Although in the past few years, almost the same number of postgraduate students obtained degrees and diplomas, most of them joined private institutions in Assam and others joined institutions or organizations outside Assam.

There are 397 postgraduate seats in the medical colleges of Assam. Among them, 50 per cent seats are of All-India basis and doctors from all over the country compete through All-India Entrance Examitions to attain these seats. Though bonds are not mandatory for them, those who avail of stipend from the Assam Government have to sign an agreement with the Government that on passing the fil examitions, they will work under the Government of Assam for a period of 10 years or else pay an amount of Rs 20 lakh as compensation.

The doctors from Assam who get admitted to the rest 50 per cent seats also come under the purview of this agreement.