Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey and (right) Central Council of Homoeopathy, New Delhi, president Ramjee Singh at the congress in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Jan. 22: Homoeopathic doctors in the state would have the same status as their allopathic counterparts, health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said today at a meet in the state capital.

“The government will appoint around 1,300 homoeopathic doctors in additional primary health centres. It is also planning to provide them salaries at par with allopathic medics,” he said while attending the Homoeopathic Science Congress.

Choubey also reiterated the government’s policy to promote indigenous and natural medicine in the state and added that the government was considering to give increased remuneration to homoeopathic doctors. “At present, contractual homoeopathic doctors get a monthly remuneration of Rs 15,000, while temporary MBBS or dentists get Rs 25,000. We want to end this disparity. I think homoeopathic doctors should get the same salaries. We will soon take a final decision in the matter,” he said.

The health department had last appointed homoeopathic doctors in 2007. At present, there are about 2,000 homoeopathic medics — passouts of 12 colleges — who seek government jobs.

The state has also requested the Centre to allow appointment of AYUSH (ayurveda, yoga, unani, sidhha and homoeopathy) doctors at primary health centres and sub-centres through National Rural Health Mission.

More than 250 homoeopathic doctors took part in the congress today. Dr Alok Pareek, one of the speakers at the meet, said in the homoeopathic therapy of cancer, the first aim is to stop the tumour growth.