Bengaluru (DHNS): The Medical Education department is considering recruiting specialists on contract basis to meet the shortage in its teaching hospitals.

Teaching hospitals, especially Victoria, Vani Vilas, Bowring and Minto, face a heavy workload, requiring additional health professionals. Doctors from the Department of Health and Family Welfare were being sent on deputation to these hospitals. But now the Department of Health and Family Welfare is pulling back its doctors, creating a shortage in the teaching hospitals.

Referring to the shortage of specialists in Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, Director of Medical Education Dr S S Harsoor said that though all the mandatory posts were full, not having additional specialists was posing a problem. Of the 11 senior specialists deputed, 10 have gone back to the parent department in the last one year. “There is a shortage and we are working towards finding replacements. Action will be taken shortly. If the Health Department indicates to us that it cannot give us the replacements, then we will recruit specialists on contract basis,” he said.

Minto currently is functioning with 24 doctors, including five professors, three associate professors and seven assistant professors. Of the 10 sanctioned posts of senior residents, three are vacant.