Health department sets March 10 deadline for 170 selected doctors to report or risk cancellation of appointment
Chandigarh: Efforts to strengthen the public healthcare system in Punjab have encountered fresh hurdles as several newly appointed government medical officers have yet to report for duty weeks after receiving their appointment letters.
The state health department had launched a phased recruitment drive to appoint 1,000 Medical Officers (General) in government hospitals to address the shortage of doctors. As part of the process, 170 candidates selected through Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, were issued appointment letters on January 29 and were expected to join their postings immediately as per the appointment terms.
March 10 Deadline to Join Duty
However, according to officials, several selected doctors have not yet reported to their assigned stations. Following a review of the situation, the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Punjab issued a public notice directing all candidates to join their duties by March 10.
The notice clearly states that candidates who fail to report by the deadline will be considered to have declined the offer, and their appointments will automatically stand cancelled without further notice.
Health department officials said that the exact number of candidates who have not joined will become clear once the deadline passes.
Previous Recruitment Rounds Also Saw Low Joining
This is not the first time the state has faced such an issue. Earlier in the same recruitment drive, appointment letters were issued to 322 candidates on August 19 and another 381 candidates on September 4, 2025. However, a significant number of those selected doctors did not join service.
A similar situation occurred in 2024 when the state government advertised 400 Medical Officer (General) posts after a four-year gap. Eventually, only 284 doctors joined, leaving many positions vacant.
In 2022, the government also attempted to recruit 634 specialist doctors, but the number of applicants was far below expectations.
Lower Pay and Heavy Workload Cited as Reasons
Doctors and medical associations have often cited relatively lower salaries and demanding workloads as major reasons for the lack of interest in government jobs.
Currently, the entry-level salary for a medical officer in Punjab is Rs 53,100, which is lower than the central government’s starting pay of Rs 67,100 and also less than the Rs 56,100 offered in neighbouring Haryana.
Apart from clinical duties, government doctors are often assigned multiple responsibilities such as emergency care, postmortem examinations, medico-legal cases and administrative tasks, which significantly increase their workload.
Medical Association Calls for Salary Revision
The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association has repeatedly urged the state government to revise the salary structure to match the pay scales offered by neighbouring states and the central government.
The association has also demanded improved workplace safety, adequate support staff and better infrastructure in government hospitals to help doctors deliver quality healthcare services.
Additionally, it has recommended the introduction of performance-linked financial incentives to attract and retain doctors in public service.
Doctor Shortage Under Court Scrutiny
Meanwhile, the shortage of doctors in government hospitals has also drawn judicial attention. The Punjab and Haryana High Court is currently hearing a public interest litigation filed by Bhisham Kinger from Malerkotla regarding the issue.
During earlier hearings, the court directed the state government to submit updates on recruitment progress and timelines for filling vacant medical posts, highlighting the urgency of addressing the shortage of doctors in public healthcare facilities.
