Chennai: The Legal Coordination Committee (LCC) for Government Doctors has appealed to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Tamil Nadu government to grant special approval for issuing appointment orders to 751 doctors selected through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB), citing urgent concerns over career delays and healthcare workforce shortages.
Only 320 Out of 1,071 Selected Doctors Appointed So Far
According to the LCC, while a total of 1,071 candidates successfully cleared the recruitment process, only 320 doctors have received appointment letters to date. The remaining 751 candidates are still awaiting counselling and postings, creating uncertainty over their future in government service.
The MRB had released a notification on November 21, 2025, for recruiting medical officers. The examination was conducted on January 25, 2026, with 20,867 candidates appearing. Out of these, 16,986 candidates qualified, and after certificate verification and seat allocation, 1,071 doctors were selected.
Initially, appointment orders were distributed to the first 100 candidates by the Health Minister, followed by those ranked 101 to 320 the next day. However, no further appointments have been issued since then.
NEET PG Eligibility at Risk Due to Delays
The committee emphasized that the delay in issuing appointment orders could have serious consequences for the candidates’ careers. As per current rules, doctors must complete at least two years of government service to be eligible for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET PG).
With the cut-off date set for March 31, failure to join service before this deadline would mean losing an entire academic year for postgraduate medical admissions.
Doctors Express Shock Over Uncertainty
The LCC highlighted that many of these candidates completed over five years of rigorous medical education and cleared a highly competitive exam with the expectation of securing government jobs. The sudden halt in appointments has left them distressed and uncertain.
The association also raised concerns about the reduction in advertised posts. While the government initially announced 1,100 vacancies, this number was later reduced to 1,071—and even those positions remain partially unfilled.
Healthcare System Faces Staff Shortage
In its statement, signed by Dr. S. Perumal Pillai, President of LCC, the committee pointed out the growing strain on Tamil Nadu’s public healthcare system.
Despite having around 1.5 lakh registered doctors in the state, fewer than 20,000 are currently serving in government hospitals for a population of approximately 8 crore. The situation is further aggravated by increasing patient footfall, which has reportedly tripled in recent years.
Demand for Massive Increase in Medical Workforce
The LCC has urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately issue appointment orders to all pending candidates and take long-term steps to strengthen healthcare infrastructure.
The committee has demanded the creation of 40,000 new doctor posts and 80,000 nursing positions to ensure adequate healthcare delivery across primary health centers and government hospitals.
Call for Immediate Government Action
With time running out before the NEET PG eligibility deadline, the LCC has stressed that swift intervention is critical—not only to safeguard the careers of young doctors but also to prevent future shortages of specialists and super-specialists in the state’s healthcare system.
