By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 7, 2019: Bowing to the criticism by the opposition parties, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday approved the appointment of 938 doctors in various government hospitals to strengthen health service system in the state.

This is the highest appointment of doctors at one go by the state government, a press release issued by the CM’s Office said, adding that the doctors will be posted in various hospitals across the state.

Out of the 6,536 sanctioned posts of doctors in the state, 2,404 posts are vacant. Tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district has the highest number of vacancies with 224 posts lying vacant against the sanctioned 407.

Even Ganjam, the home district of Patnaik, has the second highest vacancy of 216 doctors.

Thirty eight doctors post were lying vacant in Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar against the sanctioned strength of 175, sources added.