DEHRADUN: Around 30% of the doctors appointed by the Uttarakhand government since the COVID-19 pandemic began have failed to join service, thus making the state choose from the waiting list.

Among 403 doctors appointed by the state for its hospitals from March 2020 through June 2021, 117 failed to join service, quoting reasons such as getting better options in metro cities and being posted in remote hilly districts. Amit Negi, state health secretary, said that efforts were being made to fill the vacant posts.

Currently, 1,147 positions are vacant across the state, and among these, 654 are of specialists. A health department official said that several doctors will appear for the exams and those working on contractual basis will prefer to leave in order to join as specialists.

There is an acute shortage of specialist medical professionals, and an enormous imbalance in the distribution of specialist professionals in the districts.

Source: The New Indian Express