The state government of Odisha framed plans to provide incentives for doctors to make them work in rural areas, which lack adequate healthcare services.
The Odisha cabinet has cleared proposals regarding provision of special incentives to doctors appointed in remote Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput (KBK) regions in the state. As retention of medical officers in rural and remote areas, with specific focus on KBK regions, continues to remain the biggest challenge before the government, the cabinet approved that doctors would get up to 100% incentives (maximum Rs.40,000).
G.C. Pati, Chief secretary said that the incentives are determined on available objective parameters and ground realities such as backwardness of locality, tribal dominance, left-wing extremism, transport facilities and social infrastructure.
The state government had earlier devised incentives like higher salaries and preferential admission to post-graduate courses but medical officers did not stay in the rural areas, affecting health services there.
Source-Medindia