No doctors at PHCs in Chikmagalur district
Eighteen Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the district are facing dearth of doctors.
There are two sanctioned posts at Aldur and Hirebail and one each at other PHCs. But all the posts are vacant.
The district is a mix of malnad, semi-malnad and plains. Malnad is often beset with Kyasanur Forest disease and malaria besides problems of pregnant women.
District Health Officer (DHO) Neeraj told Express that in spite of attractive salary of Rs 30,000 per month, doctors are “allergic to rural service.”
He added that most of the doctors are ready to pay Rs 1 lakh as per affidavit conditions and quit the posts halfway.
Meanwhile, Health Minister U T Khader, who visited the district recently, has advised the DHO to go for local MBBS doctors.