Rather favours enhancement of incentives for contractual doctors

Sham meets FM, discusses issues relating to Health Deptt 
Describing the health as a core sector which needs focused attention, the Minister for Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Abdul Raheem Rather has said that all issues pertaining to the Department including creation of additional posts for the already expanded infrastructure would be met on priority basis, adding that consolidation is of immense importance to bring the sector back on rails and to provide timely succor to the people.
Chairing a high level meeting which was also attended by Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture, Mr. Sham Lal Sharma here today, the Minister asked the officers to furnish exact report of all the existing health institutions along-with the number of required posts so that all the issues would be sorted out together and the mechanism devised for settling the issues confronting the department. 
Agreeing that with the revised pay structure, the emoluments of contractual doctors would also be enhanced, he said that these doctors would also have to make it sure to serve the public in far-flung and remote areas of the state.  
The Health Minister, Mr. Sham Lal Sharma apprised the Finance Minister about various problems including the shortage of doctors and para-medical staff and said that the department requires more creations to strengthen the existing set up on fast-track basis. He also raised the issue of enhancement of pay of contractual doctors working under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scheme. He said that contractual doctors working in far-off places require more incentives in view of their educational background and changed scenario to improve the health facilities especially in rural areas. He requested the Minister to expedite the process of creation of 192 posts which have been projected by the department for augmenting manpower in various institutions.
The Finance Minister issued instructions to the officers to work out details and sought early feedback on the subject before finalization of creation process. He assured the Health Minister that all pending issues would be settled on priority basis.
The meeting was also attended by Financial Commissioner, Planning & Development Mr. S. L. Bhat, Commissioner/Secretary, Finance, Mr. Sudanshu Panday, Commissioner/Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Mr. Atal Duloo, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr. Muzaffar Ahmed and other officers of health department.