Retired doctors to fill in the gap of vacant posts in Haryana

GURUGRAM: After failing to attract takers for jobs at the government hospital in Haryana, the state government is now planning to utilize its experienced manpower. Under the new scheme of things, the retired doctors will be allowed to work as specialists in the government hospitals across Haryana. The retirement age for doctors in Haryana is 58 years, however, the doctors can now will be allowed to work till the age of 65 years.

Haryana has 3,250 posts and barely 1,700 doctors taking care of a population of 2.25 crore. This shortage is persisting despite the sanctioned posts not being revived in over a decade, and in an ideal scenario there should be at least 6,000 doctors in Haryana, says health officials. The pinch is felt in in Gurugram too where out of 160 sanctioned posts for doctors at General Hospital, only 115 posts are filled. Around 45 vacancies of doctors are lying vacant with no takers.

The health department tried to recruit more doctors, and advertised the posts for 662 doctors in November 2016. But only 178 candidates applied for the job. Notably, only 15 specialists have joined the state health department in last 10 years.

As the shortage of doctors affected the health services, it is now planned that the retired doctors will be allowed to work in state government hospitals. The government will give an extension of upto seven years after the retirement, albeit, only to those doctors who are willing to serve as specialists. These doctors will not be allowed an administrative posts, and they will be involved in treating the patients. In fact, names of 81 retired doctors have been shortlisted for the same.

Those shortlisted include 3 director general health services, 4 chief medical doctors, 24 deputy medical officers, 38 senior medical officers, 2 doctors of medical sciences etc. However, these senior officials will not be allowed an administrative post, and they will be involved in treating the patients. Although, they will be given a posting in the hospital of their choice.

“Over a hundred retired doctors, including those who have been retired for a few years had applied for this. However, those who have pending departmental inquiries against them, will not be considered till they are cleared of the same. The retired doctors are expected to get the extension by the end of this month and they will join their posts by next month,” said Dr MP Singh, vice president, Haryana Civil Medical Services Association, .