Chandigarh: The Punjab government has decided to recruit more doctors; even the retired ones if the need be, to meet the shortage of staff in medical colleges and hospitals.

A meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal approved the proposal to re-employ retired specialist doctors against clinical posts.

“The decision was taken to cope up with the situation arising out of an acute shortage of specialist doctors in the Department of Health and Family Welfare,” a government spokesperson said after the meeting.

Vacant posts of specialist doctors in the department would be advertised and placed on the official website every month..  In case no doctor is willing to join against these posts than the vacant post would be offered to retired specialist doctors, the spokesperson said.

Besides, in a bid to make speedy recruitments, the Punjab government has also given approval to create 128 posts of medical officer (specialists), 214 medical officers (general), 34 medical officers (dental), 36 Drugs Inspector and 133 Ayurvedic medical officers under the purview of the Punjab Public Service Commission. 

Recruitment of Medical Officer (specialist) would be made through interview and recruitment to remaining four categories would be made through written test and interview as per the criterion laid down by the committee.
—iGovernment Bureau