Now, Bidding Akin to IPL in UP To Deal With Shortage of Doctors in Govt Hospitals

Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has come up with a unique way to deal with the shortage of doctors in the state. Somewhat on the lines of IPL, the doctors in the state will get a chance to bid for a package for the job which they think will be suitable for them.

Also, the doctors in Uttar Pradesh will now decide their own base price; however, the final decision will be taken by the Health Department after comparison between estimated salary and government policies.

Speaking about the issue, Principal Secretary (Health), Prashant Trivedi said, “We have come up with a new initiative and under this arrangement, doctors will quote the salaries they want for the job. This will also solve the problems of professionals who do not take much interest in rural postings. The final decision, however, will be taken by the government after analysing the package stated and policies. The doctors will be hired under NHM scheme.”

At the moment, the state government is facing an acute shortage of specialised doctors. The government also increased the retirement age of government doctors from 60 years to 62 years to attract doctors towards government health sector but to no avail. In fact, according to the Indian Public Health Standard i.e. IPHS, there is a shortage of around 27,686 specialist doctors in Uttar Pradesh. At the moment the official figure of specialist doctors appointed in the Health Department is mere 3200. Talking about MBBS doctors, the shortage is of 8872 doctors.

It seems that the Yogi Government has studied the Karnataka bidding model, in which the doctors are recruited by the package. Now, under the proposed arrangement the NHM will hold an online bidding of every government hospital and community health centre in the state. The doctors who wish to work at a certain hospital will have to apply for it. They have to state how much yearly package they want for the post. After this, the government will appoint doctors if it feels that the package is justified and is in accordance with their policies.