‘Choice posting’ for doctors who serve first term in rural areas

Gandhinagar

Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel today said that he has accepted a proposal of giving ‘choice postings’ to the doctors who serve for three years in remote rural areas of the state.

Talking to media persons here after participating in the chintan sivir (brainstorming camp ) of his department during which the proposal was put forth, Mr. Patel said,’I accept the proposal that if a doctor gives his services in the hospitals, primary health centers (PHC) and community health centers (CHC) of the far flung rural areas for three year term, then he would be given a choice posting for the next term. It will help providing better medical facilities in the remote areas.’

The health minister also said that another proposal regarding giving the rights to Asha workers to prescribe15 basic medicines to rural people was also a welcome one and would be referred to the health commissioner for consideration.

‘Asha workers move around the rural areas and help ladies and pregnant women a great deal. The suggestion to allow them to prescribe the 15 basic medicines was a good one,’ he said.

The issues of vacant posts of doctors and other medical staffs in various establishments especially in rural areas, transfer policy of the department and other issues were also deliberated upon in detail during the three day camp.