Bhubaneswar, Nov 24: As many as 41 teaching posts are lying vacant in SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. This was informed by Health Minister Naba Kishore Das in the State Assembly.

Relying to a question by BJD MLA Souvic Biswal, the Minister said that the sanctioned post of teaching staff including professor, assistant professor and associate professor of the medical college is 379. The Minister further said that another 196 posts out of 493 sanctioned posts are also lying vacant.

Das further said that the vacant posts are being filled up though regular recruitment, contractual posting and deputation.

Earlier in this year, the state government had planned to renovate the hospital with total bed strength of 3,000 at a budget of Rs 1,000 crore. The government had also appointed a group of eminent doctors to advise on the transformation of the hospital into a world class institution, seven out of the team of 10 are Padma Awardees, four are SCB alumni.