Bengaluru : Compulsory rural areas for MBBS doctors has been implemented and 2,053 doctors have been appointed to various vacant positions in Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Departments. Including the historic direct recruitment of 1750 doctors state government has recruited about 4,000 medical officers amidst pandemic, said Health & Medical Education Minister Dr.K.Sudhakar.

Speaking to the media here on Monday, Dr.Sudhakar said that compulsory service in rural area for for MBBS graduates has been implemented. 1,001 medicos have been appointed on contractual basis in 18 Government Medical college and Hospitals. 666 doctors have been appointed to work in ICU at Taluk hospitals. They will be reporting to their respective work places by this month end, he said.

348 doctors are appointed under National Health Mission. Out of which 90 doctors have been posted in CHCs and 3 in Nephro-urology. Total 2,108 posts were vacant and 2,053 posts have been filled up. Including recently held direct recruitment, a total of four thousand medical officers have been recruited so far and it’s a historical move. Said Dr.Sudhakar.

In a positive development state has reported 95% recovery from Covid-19. Positivity rate is at 2.62%. Only Kodagu, Mysuru, Dakshina Kannada and Hassan districts have positivity rate more than 5%. Karnataka is in third place in testing after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. We have conducted 3,36,73,395 tests so far. 1.5 – 1.75 lakh tests are being conducted in the state everyday, said the Minister.

Threre are no deaths reported in 11 districts due to Covid. Overall mortality rate is also reduced. Experts are of the opinion that the 2DG drug developed by DRDO and manufactured by Dr.Reddy laboratories is safe to use. Government is planning to procure this medicine before the third wave, he added.

Health department provide all sorts of assistance to vaccinate teaching and non-teaching staff. Experts committee members will suggest measures for this, he said.

Other Points made by the Minister

• Karnataka Health Promotion Trust in collaboration with Association of Public Health Technologies has developed a pilot project for testing tuberculosis patients using Artificial Intelligence. It will be undertaken in Bellary, Koppala, Chikkaballapura and Belagavi.

• 3,232 cases of mucormycosis have been reported so far out of which 387 have recovered and 262 people have died. More than 1,600 have been operated.

• We have sufficient stock of vaccine and there is no shortage of it at present.