Bhubaneswar, Aug 21 (IANS): Around 3,500 doctor posts are lying vacant in three government-run medical colleges and other hospitals in Odisha, the Odisha legislative assembly was informed on Friday.

In a written reply to BJP legislator Dillip Ray, Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak told the assembly that 375 teacher posts were lying vacant in three government-run medical colleges-SCB medical college, MKCG medical college and VSS medical college-and one dental college.

A total of 20 professors, 44 associate professors and 297 assistance professors' posts were lying vacant in the medical colleges, the reply said.

On the other hand, a huge vacancy of doctors has been reported starting from primary hospitals to district hospitals in the state.

While the government has granted 4864 doctor posts for the primary hospitals to state capital hospitals, only 2293 posts have been filled up, the Minister added.

Similarly, while 561 doctor posts have been sanctioned for homeopathic hospitals, 272 posts are lying vacant and 214 doctor posts are lying vacant against sanctioned post of 620 posts in ayurvedic and unani hospitals, the minister added.