In a significant move to strengthen public healthcare services, Haryana will appoint over 700 medical officers, including 200 specialists, to government hospitals by March 2025. This decision aims to address the severe shortage of healthcare professionals in the state and improve medical services in civil hospitals, community health centers, and primary health centers.
Key Recruitment Details
- A total of 777 new medical officers will receive their appointments after the municipal elections.
- This includes specialists to support smooth OPD and emergency services across the state.
- These appointments follow a written examination conducted in December 2024 in Rohtak.
Director General of Health Services, Dr. Manish Bansal, uploaded the results on the health department’s website, and shortlisted candidates were asked to verify their documents on January 17 at Panchkula.
Doctor Shortage in Haryana Hospitals
Currently, Haryana has a 23% vacancy rate in government hospitals, with only 3,305 doctors serving a population of 2.8 crore. This falls short of the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of 100 doctors per lakh population.
Key Vacancies:
- Dental Surgeons: 132 of 707 sanctioned posts vacant
- Radiographers: 255 of 350 posts vacant
- Dieticians: 26 of 35 posts vacant
- Drug Control Officers: 353 of 1,085 posts vacant
Of the 23,607 total sanctioned posts, nearly 6,500 remain unfilled.
Challenges in Recruitment
Health officials revealed that the reluctance of medical professionals to join government hospitals has led to mounting vacancies in the public healthcare sector. While a state government job is often sought after, many qualified candidates opt for private healthcare roles.
In 2022, the state filled 2,389 healthcare posts, including 855 appointment letters for doctors, but only 690 joined the service, highlighting a gap in recruitment and retention.
Impact of New Appointments
The addition of 700+ doctors is expected to:
- Alleviate the burden on 59 civil hospitals, 119 community health centers, and 486 primary health centers.
- Enhance patient care and accessibility.
- Improve Haryana’s healthcare system, which currently struggles to meet the demands of its growing population.
This recruitment drive signifies a positive step towards resolving Haryana’s healthcare challenges and meeting the rising medical demands across the state.
