<div align="justify">More than 250 government hospitals in rural areas of the state are yet to receive applications from specialist doctors.<br /><br />Despite the large number of applications received from private specialist doctors for government service after the government’s move to invite applications through online bidding, doctors are not forthcoming for service in backward areas.<br /><br />Out of the 1,212 vacancies for specialist doctors in various government hospitals, more than 5,000 applications were received online. Around 200 posts are filled and some of them are undergoing the procedure for recruitment. As many as 250 posts have not yet caught the interest of doctors.<br /><br />Some of the districts which have not received applications are Bagalkot, Ballari, Belagavi, Bidar, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Kodagu, Haveri, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura and Yadgir.<br /><br />Dr Shalini Rajneesh, principal secretary of Health and Family Welfare department, said the doctors are not willing to apply for the vacancies in these 250 hospitals as they are in remote areas. They expect facilities in these centres similar to cities. Some of the things that they cannot compromise on are children’s education, advanced facilities in government hospitals, etc.<br /><br />She said it is necessary that rural employment is made compulsory after medical students graduate. Recruitment under Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) is on, she said.<br /><br />Rates they demand <br /><br />“It is difficult to get doctors when it comes to interior areas. This is the reason we went for bidding, so that we receive doctors for the rates they ask,” said Dr Ratan Kelkar, mission director, National Health Mission. <br /><br />He said around 1,000 locations are already opted for by the doctors, but not the 250 remote areas.<br /><br />“We are disappointed, as we expected doctors to apply for the posts in these places. We are asking the government to post doctors from its service to fill the vacancies,” said Kelkar.<br /><br />He said doctors are required immediately to these posts and due to the lack of doctors, they are unable to provide medical services to the people. <br /><br />Multiple options<br /><br />“If doctors need to be successful they need to experience government service too. We have given them options, they also have a choice of part time, they can also come on call or it can be on a contractual basis. But it is their choice ultimately, he said.<br /></div>
<div align="justify">More than 250 government hospitals in rural areas of the state are yet to receive applications from specialist doctors.<br /><br />Despite the large number of applications received from private specialist doctors for government service after the government’s move to invite applications through online bidding, doctors are not forthcoming for service in backward areas.<br /><br />Out of the 1,212 vacancies for specialist doctors in various government hospitals, more than 5,000 applications were received online. Around 200 posts are filled and some of them are undergoing the procedure for recruitment. As many as 250 posts have not yet caught the interest of doctors.<br /><br />Some of the districts which have not received applications are Bagalkot, Ballari, Belagavi, Bidar, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Kodagu, Haveri, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura and Yadgir.<br /><br />Dr Shalini Rajneesh, principal secretary of Health and Family Welfare department, said the doctors are not willing to apply for the vacancies in these 250 hospitals as they are in remote areas. They expect facilities in these centres similar to cities. Some of the things that they cannot compromise on are children’s education, advanced facilities in government hospitals, etc.<br /><br />She said it is necessary that rural employment is made compulsory after medical students graduate. Recruitment under Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) is on, she said.<br /><br />Rates they demand <br /><br />“It is difficult to get doctors when it comes to interior areas. This is the reason we went for bidding, so that we receive doctors for the rates they ask,” said Dr Ratan Kelkar, mission director, National Health Mission. <br /><br />He said around 1,000 locations are already opted for by the doctors, but not the 250 remote areas.<br /><br />“We are disappointed, as we expected doctors to apply for the posts in these places. We are asking the government to post doctors from its service to fill the vacancies,” said Kelkar.<br /><br />He said doctors are required immediately to these posts and due to the lack of doctors, they are unable to provide medical services to the people. <br /><br />Multiple options<br /><br />“If doctors need to be successful they need to experience government service too. We have given them options, they also have a choice of part time, they can also come on call or it can be on a contractual basis. But it is their choice ultimately, he said.<br /></div>