Patna: Around 24 doctors posted in various government hospitals in Bihar have sought voluntary retirement citing their falling health, a move which could baldy impact the health services in the state. State hospitals are already facing a scarcity of doctors, with around 75 per cent of doctor posts lying vacant.
Authorities said most of the doctors seeking voluntary retirement are posted in faraway places such as Siwan, Gopalganj, Begusarai, Madhubani, Katihar, Rohtas and Bhojpur districts.
In their resignations to the state government, most doctors state their own health problems — issues such as backbone trouble, gastroenteritis and liver as well as kidney disease — as the reason. A majority of these doctors are due to retire in the next two-three years.
“We are looking into their problems and will consider their demand only after getting convinced,” said Bihar state health services’ director Dr R.D. Ranjan on Tuesday.
As per an official report, there are around 11,500 posts of doctors and teachers in the medical colleges and hospitals in Bihar. Out of them, only around 2,500 doctors are posted in government hospitals; the other spots lie vacant.
The existing vacancy has affected the functioning of the government hospitals in Bihar, forcing the people to rush to private hospitals for treatment. Given the situation, the mass move to voluntarily retire is set to further impact the government-run health-care system in the state.
