Bihar residents pursuing MBBS abroad would now be eligible to be doctors in government medical colleges and hospitals in the state.
The state government has agreed in-principle to make amendments to the existing rules to facilitate their appointment as doctors. A decision to this effect was taken at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
After amendments, the Bihar Health Services (Recruitment and Service Conditions) Rules 2015 would be followed to fill up the vacant posts of doctors in medical colleges and hospitals.
At present, the state has around 800 teaching employees (regular) against the sanctioned posts of 2,500 in different medical institutions. The health hubs have only 2,600 non-teaching employees (all doctors) against the sanctioned strength of 10,300. Likewise, 600 doctors are working on contract against the sanctioned posts of 1,600.
Principal secretary of cabinet coordination department B. Pradhan said: "Till date, there was no specific guideline for the appointment of MBBS degree holders from foreign universities as doctors in the state. Hence, it was felt to bring about certain changes in the existing rules to fill up the vacancies to render smooth medical service to the people."
Pradhan said such applicants would have to register themselves with the Medical Council of India (MCI).
General secretary of Bihar Health Services Association Dr Ajay Kumar said all the foreign degree holders would get standard 50 marks during their selection process in the state irrespective of what they scored in foreign universities.
The cabinet also approved the food and civil supplies department's proposal to fix transportation freight of foodgrain from the godowns of Food Corporation of India to the state food corporation's warehouses at Rs 101.47 per quintal. The state would have to bear additional Rs 41 crore per annum because of the hike made under the provision of the Food Security Act.
The cabinet gave approval to the proposal to create 684 posts for 18 sub-divisional courts. The government also sanctioned Rs 1 crore to Bihar State Religious Trust Board for the financial year 2014-15. A total of nine proposals were passed in the meeting.##
