Often criticised for not being able to provide essential health
services in rural areas  due to lack of doctors, Orissa
government today said they have appointed as many as 408
assistant surgeons recently.  Most of the newly recruited
doctors were posted in tribal dominated districts, said Health
and Family Welfare Minister Prasanna Acharya.  Out of the
state's total doctors strength, about 1200 posts were laying
vacant at different places, mostly in Maoist affected tribal
areas.  While the highest number of 48 assistant surgeons were
posted in Keonjhar district, 45 were deployed in Mayurbhanj
district followed by 40 in riot-hit Kandhamal district, 31 each
in Koraput, Kalahandi and Nawrangpur districts, he said.  Thirty
doctors were appointed in Balangir district.  Similarly, while
28 fresh doctors were appointed in Sundargarh district, 26 were
given appointments in different hospitals in Malkangiri
district, he added.