Tamil Nadu: Tenure of retiring govt doctors, nurses extended by 2 months

CHENNAI: Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday announced that doctors, nurses and technicians of health and family welfare department, who are due to retire on April 30, would be given two months extension of service on contract basis. They would be given consolidated pay for the extended tenure. The state government will also induct 1,323 nurses into service immediately.


Several senior health officials, including the director of public health Dr K Kolandasamy, are due to complete their service period by the month end, officials said.

In a statement, the chief minister said the government would issue appointment orders for temporary service of doctors, nurses and technicians. “The doctors, nurses and technicians, who were to retire on March 31, have already been given extensions of service,” the CM said.

The government had recently inducted 1,509 lab technicians, 530 doctors and 1,000 nurses into service. They were recruited based on their performance in competitive examinations conducted by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Recruitment Board. “In continuation to that, the board has selected 1,323 more nurses. Appointment orders are being given to the candidates and they have been informed to join service immediately,” Palaniswami said.

Every year, more than 3,000 health personnel retire from the health department. Records show between March and May, at least 1,500 staff were retiring from service. “At the time of pandemic, it is important to retain experienced people to avoid vacancies and ensure seamless transmission of workflow. The newly appointed staff will also be given good training,” said a senior health department official.

The state health department has about 20,000 doctors working in the three directorates and at least 28,000 nurses, including 12,700 contract nurses, besides other technicians and healthcare workers.