: The Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA) feels a recent declaration of the State government to provide extra incentives to doctors working in remote, difficult areas will not solve the scarcity of government doctors in Odisha.
In the recently held executive body meeting of the OMSA, members were of the opinion that only financial incentives will not attract neo-physicians to opt for government jobs in Odisha, unless proper scope for career enhancement is provided.
Speaking to The Hindu , president of OMSA Nirakar Bhatta welcomed the government decision to provide extra incentives to government doctors working in remote areas but also wanted some rectifications in its norms.
According to Dr Bhatta, the government notification of June 9 regarding provision of extra incentives to doctors posted in difficult areas does not include several difficult and remote regions of the State. Therefore, several doctors posted in these areas will not be benefited by this proposal.
The OMSA also welcomed the appointment of 372 ad-hoc doctors, but requested the State government to take necessary steps for recruitment of new doctors every year through the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) every year.
They also want the government to sponsor short course trainings to enhance the skills of serving doctors.
The OMSA feels Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme can be the best way to solve the current problem of scarcity of doctors.
If a young doctor would get ample space for career advancement and promotions in his own State, he would surely prefer to serve the State government, said Dr Bhatta.
A DACP scheme had been formulated in Odisha in 2010 to provide better career prospects to government doctors. But it has not been implemented yet.
At present, it is alleged that government doctors in Odisha have less scope for promotion in comparison to other States.
The OMSA pointed out that Odisha government has already implemented Revised Assured Career Progression (RACP) for all other government employees as per Central government norms, but it has not taken any decision to implement DACP for the government doctors.
‘Proper scope for career enhancement should be given to doctors’
