Shimla, Apr 4 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh will recruit 100 doctors through walk-in interviews to overcome the acute shortage of doctors in the state, Health Minister Kaul Singh said here Thursday.

The cabinet at its last meeting gave the nod to recruitment of doctors on priority, the minister told the assembly.

"A total of 198 doctors are currently doing post-graduate studies. We will recruit 100 doctors from among them this year, and the same number next year," he said.

Blaming the previous BJP government for not taking the initiative to fill the vacant posts of doctors, Kaul Singh said the state is facing an acute shortage of doctors, especially specialists, particularly in rural areas.

To tide over the problem, he said the government has already increased the salary of graduate doctors from Rs.26,200 to Rs.40,000 and post-graduate ones from Rs.50,000 to Rs.65,000.

The minister said the previous government (2008-12) recruited 453 doctors through the Rogi Kalyan Samiti, but 169 of them resigned soon afterwards. "Now, only 284 doctors are serving," the minister said.

The minister said the state is also facing shortage of 844 male health workers and 171 female health workers, till date.