AGARTALA, June 22(TIWN): The state Health Department currently has 113 posts of junior medical officers vacant. While the process for inducting medical officers went in vain despite several phases of notifications, the Department is now contemplating to induct junior doctors on adhoc basis to bridge the crisis of malaria epidemic that killed forty patients till Saturday.Over 3,300 patients are confirmed to have been contacted by the disease, mostly in areas under the jurisdiction of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). Low rate of institutional treatment and higher number of deaths in households in the far flung villages proved low sensitization among the common folks.

Health Minister Badal Choudhury on Saturday said in the sidelines of an official briefing that the process of inducting junior doctors in all 113 vacant posts on adhoc basis would be completed by the next 15 days. Retired doctors, who are still capable of serving, would also be requested to join the Department in tackling the pandemic situation.