Hospital vacancies will be filled up in 2 months: Medical Education Minister Awhad

Mumbai: Maharashtra government on Saturday told the state Legislative Assembly that vacancies in the hospitals and the colleges affiliated to Medical Education Department

will be filled up within two months.

Medical Education Minister Jitendra Awhad (NCP) said his department would move a proposal before the cabinet in a week's time, demanding recruitment through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).

Awhad also said that recruitment in the Medical Health Department should be taken out of the purview of MPSC, as in the case of Public Health Department.

The minister informed that tenders for supplying modern equipment to the hospitals under his department would be floated on July 1.

Replying to a supplementary question, Awhad assured that government would take steps to revive the Mumbai-based Haffkine Institute.

Some MLAs pointed out that the institute had stopped production of the vaccine used to treat snake bites and dog bites. "Many people die because of the shortage of vaccines,"

said Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse (BJP).

MNS's Bala Nandgaonkar said government should intervene in the management dispute at the Institute, which had led to resignation of its head, Dr Ravi Bapat.

Awhad said he would take necessary steps for the revival of the institute, and assured that in the meantime imported vaccines would be supplied to the hospitals to deal with the shortage.