Mangaluru: The health department’s efforts to fill vacancies at rural health centres through walk-in interviews have received a poor response, with only nine MBBS graduates applying over the past week.Following directives from health minister U T Khader, the department had issued advertisements on various platforms to recruit MBBS graduates on a temporary basis to address staff shortages.District health officer Dr H R Thimmaiah said many graduates were hesitant to apply because they were concerned about their plans to pursue higher studies getting affected due to too many patient appointments.The shortage of applicants continues to pose challenges for the department in ensuring adequate medical services in rural areas. The DHO said there are vacancies in several rural health centres and taluk hospitals.As an immediate measure, temporary appointments will be made for 38 vacant MBBS posts at rural health centres and taluk hospitals.The DHO said when a walk-in interview was conducted on Tuesday, nine candidates attended it. Appointment letters will be issued to those doctors at the earliest, he added.“The health minister has said doctors will be appointed on a temporary basis for a monthly salary of Rs 60,000, which may be hiked in the future. Their roles will be made permanent after five years of service,” the DHO said.Earlier, there were hurdles in regularising the appointment of contractual doctors. However, the health ministry is now taking steps to resolve these hurdles, the DHO added.The state govt has also launched initiatives to recruit permanent doctors. Since most MBBS doctors aspire to pursue post-graduation, along with seeking job security, many have already completed their PG degrees while serving at public health centres.Doctors in contractual roles may be given preference during recruitment for permanent posts. They will also have the assurance of job security while continuing their pursuit of post-graduation, the DHO further said.
