The Odisha government on Tuesday decided to provide a financial incentive of Rs. 18,000 per month to doctors doing their post graduation in pre- and para-clinical subjects.
 

In order to attract more doctors in these sectors, the incentives would be provided in addition to their monthly stipend. The decision has been taken after the approval of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The Health Minister said that doctors doing their post graduation in pre-clinical subjects like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, and para-clinical subjects like pharmacology, FMT, pathology, microbiology, and community medicine are entitled to receive the financial incentive.

"As the doctors are not showing interest in doing post graduation in pre-clinical and para-clinical subjects, financial incentives would be provided after completing MBBS," the Minister said. He also announced a hike in the stipend of pre- and para-clinical students of state-run medical colleges. The government has increased the total stipend to Rs. 48,302 from Rs. 39,950 for first year students. It has also increased the stipend to Rs. 50,658 for second year, and Rs. 53,014 for third year students. "Both in-service and post graduate doctors will be entitled to the monthly stipend which has been introduced for the first time by Odisha government," said Jena.