‘Salaries of GMCH doctors will be at par with AIIMS’ Says Himanta Biswa Sarma

* Move to stop private practice, says Himanta

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Doctors serving patients at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) will receive salaries at par with their counterparts at AIIMS in New Delhi on the condition that they quit private practice.

Health & Family Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while making the announcement at the Assam Assembly during the second day of the ongoing Budget session on Tuesday, said that the super specialists at GMCH will receive the same salary package as their counterparts get at the Max Hospital in Delhi. He, however, added that the GMCH doctors will have to quit private practices to receive such attractive salaries.

“The prime objective of the move is to make the GMCH one of the best hospitals in the country. The government will send GMCH doctors on voluntary retirement who refuse to quit private practice, with an aim to retain only those who are dedicated to serve the poor and needy patients,” Sarma informed the Assembly.

Admitting the problem of shortage of doctors in the State, Sarma pointed out that of the 3,194 sanctioned posts of doctors, 1,115 are lying vacant. He also said that the State annually produces 726 MBBS graduates from six medical colleges. Once all the new medical colleges currently under construction start functioning, the State will be able to overcome the problem of shortage of doctors, Sarma said, adding that construction of the Nagaon medical college will be completed by 2021.

Sarma further stated that the MBBS doctors are bound to serve in rural areas at least for one year.

Admitting “We cannot compel the PG students to go to villages, Minister Sarma however added, “The doctors will have to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh in case they do not serve in the rural areas after completing their MS and MD courses.”

The Minister also said that about 520 new doctors will be appointed shortly under the National Health Mission (NHM).

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