Karnataka government will appoint 280 doctors on a contract basis by December 31, 2002. The vacancies in the various primary health centres (PHCs) will be filled by the month end, Health and Family welfare minister, Kagodu Thimmappa told Pharmabiz.com.

Around 80 specialists would be appointed at the taluk hospitals by December 31, 2002. In addition, the government would appoint 3,000 technicians, he said.

The health minister informed that out of the 495 doctors who had been appointed to government hospitals in rural areas, 81 had not reported for duty. "We have cancelled their appointments, he said. In addition, 182 doctors and other staff have been dismissed for unauthorised absence and failing to report for duty.

The state government has also made efforts to fill up the backlog of vacancies in the SC/ST category where 109 candidates were recruited.

Several village health centres in the State have remained closed for want of doctors and patients have remained in the lurch. This is because doctors who are posted here go on leave. Now the government is taking the option of providing a doctor at every medical centre in the rural areas as patients and their families from the villages find it difficult and expensive to commute to cities for treatment.

Of the 1,676 PHCs each of which caters to the approximately 30,000 population, about 500 have no facilities. The shortcomings include non-availability of drugs, vacancies not filled and acute shortage of staff due to absenteeism.

The introduction of transport service for doctors posted in rural areas to commute to their hospitals and medical centres living in the closest town of these inaccessible remote areas has proved a success, he said.

The state government is also making efforts to introduce herbal medicines in PHCs. A convention is being organised at Sagar in Shimoga district on December 15, 2002 where more than 500 delegates who are practising herbal medicines in the districts of the State will be present. The documentation on the use of medicinal plants will be undertaken by the state government to popularise the use of traditional medicines.

The government has taken up a project to cultivate medicinal plants in about 50 acres of land at Shimoga.