Karnataka Government Cancels Prolonged Deputations of Health Staff to Tackle Manpower Shortage
Bengaluru — In a major step to strengthen Karnataka’s public health infrastructure, the state government has issued a directive mandating the immediate repatriation of Health and Family Welfare Department employees who have been on deputation to other departments for over five years.
The order, issued on May 7, aims to plug staffing gaps in district hospitals, taluk hospitals, community health centres (CHCs), and primary health centres (PHCs), which have been severely impacted by the prolonged absence of trained personnel.
Directive Targets Medical Education Department Deputations
Many of the affected doctors and staff had been posted in the Medical Education Department on short-term deputations that were never reversed, even after their official period ended. The government said these extended postings had significantly disrupted service delivery in critical health institutions.
“All such postings are hereby cancelled, and concerned personnel must return to their original posts in the Health and Family Welfare Department immediately,” the directive stated.
Accountability and Enforcement
The Health Commissioner has been assigned the responsibility to oversee coordination between departments and ensure prompt repatriation. A detailed redeployment report must also be submitted to the government without delay.
To ensure compliance, the government warned that disciplinary action under civil service rules will be initiated against any staff who fail to report back.
Part of a Broader National Trend
This move follows similar actions in other states. In Haryana, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) recently sought the return of doctors deputed to Chandigarh for over a decade—some for as long as 14 years.
Karnataka’s decision underscores the urgent need to restore manpower in core health services and reallocate trained professionals to underserved regions across the state.
