Despite serious shortage, Rajasthan’s specialist doctors keep away from contract with Government

Rajasthan is having a medical emergency of sorts with many areas reporting the outbreak of swine flu and other seasonal diseases and death of children due to asphyxia but many of the medical specialists would have nothing to do with hospitals!

And this is when the State is grappling with the scarcity of specialist doctors in government hospitals. There are 134 government appointed doctors, who are unwilling to join their duties at various district hospitals, Primary Health Centers (PHC), Community Health Centers (CHC) and hospitals associated with medical colleges in Rajasthan.

Alarmed by the situation, the Rajasthan Government has served notices to these specialist doctors and warned them of cancellation of their registrations under Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC), if they don't join their duty immediately. These doctors are under a contract after completion of their post graduate (PG) studies to serve a minimum of five years in the State’s government hospitals. The Directorate of Medical Health and Family Welfare has taken this non-compliance of the contract term seriously and served notices to these doctors. 

Director of Public Health and President of Rajasthan Medical Council Dr VK Mathur said that strict action is being initiated against these doctors for not complying with the terms of the contract. “They have to serve at government hospitals for at least five years as per the rules. We have issued notices to 134 doctors and given them a final warning. No action will be taken against the doctors who join in the next few days,” said Dr Mathur. 

The All Rajasthan In Service Doctors' Association (ARISDA) has claimed that the primary reason behind doctors not joining government hospitals in Rajashtan is the low pay package offered to specialist doctors when compared to private hospitals.