Rush to fill 802 PHC doctor posts to ease healthcare burden

Hubballi: Primary health centres (PHCs) across the state are expected to get MBBS doctors soon, following directions from the new health minister, UT Khader, who has initiated action within days of assuming charge. Acting on these instructions, district administrations have begun steps to fill all 802 vacant MBBS doctor posts on a contract basis, to strengthen primary-level healthcare and ease pressure on higher referral hospitals.

As per sources in the health department, there are 3,748 sanctioned posts in total. Of these, 2,458 are permanent doctors and 488 are on a contract basis, while 802 posts remain vacant across the state. A higher number of these vacancies are in rural areas, while urban areas have fewer vacant posts.

In the Belagavi division, which includes eight districts — Belagavi, Chikodi, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Uttara Kannada and Vijayapura — there are 104 MBBS vacancies. Uttara Kannada has the highest number in the division. The district has 81 PHCs and 82 sanctioned posts; 62 are currently filled, and 20 posts are vacant.

Dharwad district has 50 PHCs with 50 sanctioned posts, of which 43 are filled and seven remain vacant. Despite this wide network, many doctor posts have remained vacant for long, affecting outpatient services, timely diagnosis and continuity of care in several areas. As per the current vacancy status, one MBBS post is vacant in urban PHCs and five in rural PHCs. Additionally, three medical officer (MO) posts are vacant at the General Hospital in Dharwad, affecting capacity at the district-level govt hospital.

Currently, in Dharwad district, eight PHCs already have newly inducted MBBS doctors. Officials said contractual appointments are being taken up on priority, so that essential services can be restored quickly. This move is expected to improve access to qualified medical care closer to people’s homes, particularly in rural areas where residents often travel long distances for consultations, prescriptions and basic investigations.

However, due to the identified gaps, some facilities continue to face shortages that restrict full operations and increase crowding at nearby centres.

By filling vacant MBBS as well as MO posts, the state health department aims to ensure steady doctor availability, stronger monitoring of public health programmes, improved emergency response at the PHC level and better overall patient care across urban and rural areas.

UT Khader, minister for health and family welfare, said he has directed officials to fill all vacant MBBS posts without delay. He added that due to delays in appointments, many doctors avoided joining govt hospitals. “In this regard, I have instructed officials to simplify the process, issue orders to eligible candidates based on applications received, and ensure quicker appointments,” he said.