Mumbai, July 1 (IANS). Maharashtra Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar said during Question Hour in the Assembly on Wednesday that the Cabinet has approved the recruitment of 5,000 new posts in the Public Health Department to overcome the shortage of staff in the medical centers of the state.
He announced that the recruitment process will be expedited this week.
Today, on the occasion of National Doctor’s Day, appointment letters of 1,400 doctors are being issued immediately, and an additional 600 doctors will be recruited soon.
Additionally, following High Court directions, 1,900 Community Health Officer (CHO) posts will also be filled soon.
The minister said that with these new approvals and immediate doctor appointments, all hospitals in the state will soon be equipped with the necessary staff, medical equipment and facilities.
Answering a question from MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar, Minister Abitkar said that the pending funds for sub-district hospitals will be released within a week.
The state has prioritized pending construction projects by first allocating funds to hospital buildings that are 50 percent, 70 percent, 75 percent and 90 percent complete.
Payment of dues of Asha workers, Anganwadi workers and other contractual employees serving during the Covid-19 pandemic will also be paid on priority basis.
Taking a tough stance against third-party recruitment agencies violating rules related to salaries of contractual employees, provident fund (PF) and ESIC compliance, the minister informed that two-three agencies have already been blacklisted.
He said that if necessary, criminal cases would be registered against the guilty organizations.
Further, Minister Abitkar said in the state assembly today that the health department will soon implement a standard operating procedure (SOP) for all nursing colleges in Maharashtra to ensure strict discipline, regularity and safety of girl students.
He gave this information while replying to the calling attention motion raised by MLA Praveen Datke regarding the alleged incident of food poisoning in the Government Nursing Training School under the District General Hospital, Gondia.
–IANS
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