Odisha to launch place-based incentives for medical officers

Failing to retain doctors in rural and tribal dominated areas of the state, the Odisha government today decided to launch place-based incentive scheme with provision of hiking salary of medical officers working in the remotest areas by 100 per cent.
The decision in this regard was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
"The entire scheme has been scientifically devised to make it more objective as well as attractive. It is expected that medical officers and specialists alike will be more inclined than before to take up jobs in backward areas," Chief Secretary G C Pati said.

Stating that retention of medical officers in rural and remote areas with emphasis on KBK (Kalahandi, Balangir-Koraput) regions remained the biggest challange before the government, Pati said all its previous efforts have not yielded any result.
With mushrooming of corporate health care facilities where doctors and specialists are offered much attractive pay packages, the percentage of doctors preferring these services and deserting secured government jobs continues to be high, the Chief Secretary pointed out.
The government has categorised all the 1,751 health service providing establishments into four zones, Pati said, adding, that it has been decided that doctors working in the remotest areas will get 100 per cent hike in their salary while the doctors working in the remote and far-off tribal areas will get additional Rs 40,000 apart from their salary.

In another decision, the cabinet approved a proposal of amending the Odisha Protection of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 2011 and provide more teeth to the legislation.