GUWAHATI, Dec 10 - State Health Minister Dr Nazrul Islam today admitted that as many as 16 hospitals in the State are running with a single doctor or nurse.
He, however, assured the House that efforts are on to appoint doctors and nurses in these hospitals and by January next year, the posts will be filled up.
Replying to a question by AGP legislator Phani Bhusan Choudhury, the Minister further informed that at present 900 posts of doctors are lying vacant in the State and the doctor:patient ratio is far below the World Health Organization (WHO)-prescribed limit.
�While the WHO recommends that the doctor:patient ratio should be 1:1000, in Assam the ratio is four times less (.25: 1000),� the Minister said.
On the acute shortage of doctors and nurses, Dr Islam further stated that the nurse:patient ratio in the State is also very low compared to the WHO recommendations.
He further informed the House that between April 2015 and November 15 this year, Rs 34 crore was collected as revenue from the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) and the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH).
�It is the Hospital committee which spends the money under various heads and a yearly audit is also done,� Dr Islam pointed out.
The Minister also added that 2005 posts of employees are presently vacant in the State.
