A total of 643 posts of specialist doctors are lying vacant in state-run district hospitals and medical colleges in Chhattisgarh, Health Minister TS Singhdeo told the state Assembly July 15.

In a written reply to a question raised by Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) MLA Ajit Jogi, he said, as on June 1 this year, 470 posts of specialist doctors were sanctioned in district hospitals, of which 356 posts were vacant. As against 852 sanctioned posts of specialist doctors in government medical colleges, 287 are vacant, Singhdeo's reply added.

To fill the vacant posts, contractual appointments, walk-in interviews at institution level, direct-regular appointments were conducted from time to time, the minister said. It was not possible to give a fixed time period by which these vacant posts will be filled, he informed the House.