RAIPUR,CG: Special Secretary, Health Department, Government of Chhattisgarh will be the nodal officer to look into the shortage of specialist doctors in the medical colleges of the state.

State Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh on Tuesday discussed in detail about the health system and the facilities of medical colleges of the state in a meeting held at the Assembly Secretariat. Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma were also present.

Speaker had raised concern over the shortage of specialist doctors in the medical colleges of the state. He asked to increase their honorarium and regularize them.

Thus, it was decided to constitute a committee under the Special Secretary. The senior officials of the finance and health departments, deans and senior professors of any medical college will also be included in the committee. The committee will submit its report within a month after studying the provisions and rules of the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh regarding the provision of honorarium to specialist doctors and their regularization.

Dr. Raman Singh also discussed in detail the facilities and establishment of all the medical colleges of the state including Rajnandgaon and Kawardha.

He said that in order to provide better health facilities to the people of the state, the department should work by making short and long term targets. The work can be done in a time bound manner. It is then ensured that more people get the benefit of health facilities on time. He asked the Health Minister to immediately fill the vacant posts of Assistant Professors in the Health Department through PSC.

Jaiswal sought information about the status of medical colleges under construction. He asked the officials to complete the necessary works for their early establishment.

He also called for expansion of facilities in the medical colleges and district hospitals of the state.