Date:08/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/08/stories/2007070859120600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Government plans to recruit more healthcare personnel

Special Correspondent

Around 1,000 nurses will be appointed in primary health centres: Minister

— Photo: R. Ragu

AFTER THE SELECTION: Health Minister K.K.S.S.R Ramachandran handing over appointment orders to village health nurses in Chennai on Saturday.

Chennai: The State Government is planning to recruit more rural healthcare personnel, including doctors, following the lifting of the freeze on recruitments.

Around 1,000 nurses will be appointed in primary health centres in the next one month, apart from promotions to existing personnel, Health Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran said while handing over appointment letters to 263 village health nurses and 230 assistant health nurses on Saturday.

So far, 2,207 doctors, 603 health inspectors, 996 nurses, 17 pharmacists and 52 drivers had been appointed by the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

A total of 263 village health nurses had been promoted as auxiliary nurses and the vacancies thus created for the posts of village health nurses would be filled through counselling for anganwadi and Integrated Child Development Scheme workers.

“A victory”

Restoration of the sanctioned strength of 300 seats in the Kanyakumari, Theni and Vellore medical colleges was a victory for the State Government’s health education policies, Mr. Ramachandran said.

The privately-run Mookambigai Medical College, which was facing a similar problem, was also taking steps to restore the strength.

“Counselling for seats in the private medical college would be held as scheduled but admissions will be made only after it gets the Health Ministry’s approval,” the Minister said.