Patna, (BiharTimes): Following the Union government policy the Bihar government on Thursday evening decided to raise the retirement age of the doctors from 60 to 62. Besides, it also decided to re-employ on contract basis retired officers of the Bihar Administrative Service on contract basis. They will be appointed for the six months and if required their term could be extended further.

The state cabinet’s decision will benefit both the doctors of the Bihar State Health Services and Bihar Medical Education Services. Among other things the state government’s doctors have for long been relentless pressurizing the government to raise their retirement age.

The state government was compelled to take the step as doctors were retiring at the rate of 50 every month and there was no fresh appointment in sight. The state government has taken this step to take the wind out of the sail of the proposed threat of the doctors to go on strike from December 5 next.

Meanwhile, the state government has worked out a reward scheme for the doctors and the para-medics staff posted in Primary Health Centres. There will be different grade of incentives for them. Those PHCs which achieved 90 per cent of the target of infant and pregnant woman immunization would be given Rs 40,000 as award while those achieving 80 per cent will get Rs 30,000.

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