From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jul 3: In a new initiative to tackle the disinterest of Specialists in medical profession for serving in the Government hospitals, Karnataka is launching the process of recruitment of specialists in hospitals by calling applications through online bidding.

This online bidding enable physicians to quote their salary and the State Government would consider their application based on their qualifications, experience, expertise and salary expectations, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister R Ramesh Kumar said.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, the minister said there were about 1,000 vacancies of posts of specialists in various health centres, including district level hospitals in the State.

Several specialists rejected the State Government’s offer to join the service citing several reasons, including less salary.

Specialists have been paid Rs 1.20 lakh a month, the minister said pointing out that specialists have been declining government offers to join the public health service.

As a last resort, the State Government has decided to recruit vacancies in the specialists’ category in various districts through inviting applications through and doctors can quote their salary, Kumar said.

The Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017, a legislation aimed at regulating the functioning of private hospitals and clinics, has been referred to the Joint Select Committee of Legislature headed by Congress MLA K N Rajanna, for review.

The legislature committee would hold its first meeting on July 6, the minister said.