Health min blames MLAs’ recommendations for doc vacancies in govt hospitals

Jaipur: Health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar Tuesday told the Assembly that recommendations by MLAs for transfers and amendments in posting lists are a key reason behind persistent vacancies in govt hospitals. Replying to the debate on health grant demands, Khimsar said, "We are culprits for it (for vacant posts in govt hospitals). Promise me that you won't make any recommendations. I will arrange things in such a way that not a single position in your hospital will remain vacant." He added that though 1,000 doctors were sent to constituencies, changes were later sought through recommendations.
"If you do not initiate unnecessary recommendations, I promise that not a single position in any hospital will remain vacant. But this is our weakness; we are the ones suffering and also the ones crying," he said. Khimsar said the department, for the first time, sought posting preferences from doctors and nursing staff and deployed 25,000 personnel, including in tribal and desert areas. However, staff prefer cities such as Jaipur, Kota, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Ajmer, Udaipur and Jodhpur, leading to surplus in urban centres and shortages in remote regions. A computerised posting system was introduced to curb interference, he said, adding, "We posted 1,000 PG doctors through this computerised process to make the trauma centres and first referral units functional." The debate later turned contentious when Congress MLA Ghanshyam Mahar claimed heart attack cases rose after Covid-19 and called for research into vaccines. Leader of Opposition Tikaram July sought a scientific probe. BJP MLAs, including minister Madan Dilawar, objected. BJP MLA Shrichand Kripalani asked Mahar which vaccine he received, to which he replied he did not know and alleged possible irregularities. Separately, BJP MLA Kesaram Chaudhary sought a permanent ban on hospitals found committing fraud under schemes such as RGHS.