Bengaluru: Facing with shortage of specialist doctors, the State Government has decided to recruit specialist doctors in hospitals through online bidding

Announcing this while speaking to press persons here yesterday, Health and Family Welfare Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar said that there was severe shortage of specialists in Government Hospitals at the district and taluk centres.

Pointing out that about 1,000 posts of specialist doctors are vacant in various health centres across the State, the Minister said that specialist doctors were reluctant to join Government service despite the Government offering salaries up to Rs. 1.25 lakh per month and as a last resort, it has been decided to recruit specialists in various districts through online bidding.

Under the system, the doctors can specify their desired salary and their preferred place of work through an online process, he said. Retreating that the State Government will adopt the Kerala model for rehabilitating Endosulfan victims in the State, Ramesh said that a committee headed by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah will be constituted soon to work out the  modalities.

Ramesh further said that the Joint House Committee headed by MLA K.N. Rajanna, constituted to scrutinise the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017, will hold its first meeting on July 6.