Stop-Gap Measures in Place Until Permanent Hiring
Chandigarh: The Punjab government has implemented temporary arrangements to address the acute shortage of specialist doctors, particularly in border areas, until regular appointments are made. Successive governments have struggled to recruit and retain specialists in government hospitals, with many gynaecologists, ophthalmologists, anaesthesiologists, physicians, and orthopaedic surgeons leaving after short tenures.
Government Efforts to Fill Vacancies
Responding to a question in the assembly, Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh acknowledged the specialist shortage, particularly in border regions, and stated that the government is actively working on various hiring measures to resolve the issue. While the recruitment process is ongoing, stop-gap arrangements have been introduced to bridge the gap.
To strengthen the workforce, the government is engaging recent postgraduates, with around 250 doctors currently available. These doctors are encouraged to serve in field postings for two years, after which they will be transferred to teaching roles in medical colleges. Additionally, the government is empanelling private specialists willing to provide part-time services, and MLAs have been urged to help identify interested doctors who would be compensated accordingly.
Challenges in Specialist Recruitment
Despite ongoing efforts, the AAP-led Punjab government continues to struggle with unfilled specialist positions. The lack of interest among doctors is largely due to lower salaries in Punjab’s government sector compared to central government jobs and neighbouring states. Additionally, specialists cite poor working conditions, as they are often required to handle post-mortem examinations, medico-legal cases, and emergency duties, making government hospital roles less attractive.
