₹1.4L for Specialist Doctors: Karnataka’s Bid to Fill 500+ Doctor Vacancies
Bengaluru: In a bid to tackle severe staff shortages in public healthcare, the Karnataka government has approved a significant salary hike for doctors and nurses under the National Health Mission (NHM). Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced the revision during a press conference, highlighting the urgent need to attract and retain medical professionals in state-run hospitals.
Vacancies Plague Health Sector
Official data reveals alarming gaps in staffing—nearly 42% of MBBS doctor posts (579 out of 1,398) and 34% of specialist positions (305 out of 899) remain unfilled. Similarly, over 900 staff nurse vacancies persist, crippling healthcare delivery, especially in critical units like ICUs and neonatal care.
Low salaries have long been a deterrent, prompting the state to revise pay scales under the NHM’s 2024–26 budget.
Revised Pay Scales
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MBBS doctors: ₹60,000/month (up from ₹46,895–50,000)
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Specialists (gynecology, surgery, etc.): ₹1,40,000/month (previously ₹1,10,000–1,30,000)
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Staff nurses: ₹22,000/month (earlier ₹14,186–18,774)
Specialists with experience will receive an extra 2.5% increment per year of service.
New Recruits Only; Incentives for Rehires
The revised pay applies solely to new hires, though existing employees may resign and reapply, gaining extra marks for prior service during recruitment.
“This revision makes government jobs competitive,” said Rao. “We aim to fill vacancies, especially in rural areas, to strengthen public healthcare.”
The move comes as Karnataka races to bolster its health infrastructure amid rising patient loads and high attrition rates in the sector.
