Chennai: In a move to address a pressing staff shortage, the Health Department has issued a directive requiring all doctors and health personnel deputed to other departments for more than five years to return to their parent department immediately.
Deputation Beyond Five Years to End
As per an official order issued on Wednesday, doctors—including specialists—and support staff such as nurses and technicians posted in departments like Medical Education or district hospitals for over five years must report back without delay. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action under service rules. Sources indicate the decision follows high-level discussions.
Over 560 Doctors on Deputation
According to Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Harsh Gupta, over 565 doctors, including specialists, along with a significant number of nurses and technicians, are currently serving in deputation roles. Many have remained in urban postings for over a decade, creating an imbalance in healthcare staffing across the state.
Urban Bias Hindering Equitable Resource Use
“Most of these professionals have stayed in urban facilities for more than 10–15 years. This results in sub-optimal utilisation of resources,” Mr. Gupta said. He added that senior doctors are working in roles such as casualty medical officers—positions typically filled by recently graduated MBBS doctors.
Push for Equitable Redistribution
The department plans to redistribute staff equitably to ensure all regions, including rural areas, have access to experienced professionals. “Many are choosing to remain in urban hospitals even if it means accepting posts below their level of seniority,” Gupta noted, indicating the need for fair rotation and opportunities across regions.
Vacancies in Health Dept Need Urgent Filling
Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, Mr. Gupta pointed out that some specialties have vacancy levels exceeding 50%, qualifying as “critical” under service rules. “Our aim is to fill these gaps and make better use of our current workforce,” he said.
