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8-Month Wait for New Hospital Staff: Approvals Delay Critical Hires
13 Nov
Summary
- Contractual hospital staff recruitment may take eight months due to approvals.
- Around 2,000 doctors and 10,000 nurses could be hired on contract.
- Nurses' groups and doctors' associations express concerns over contractual hiring.
The recruitment of contractual doctors and nurses for state-run hospitals in Kolkata is expected to take up to eight months. This significant delay is attributed to the necessity of obtaining multiple governmental approvals, including those from the state cabinet and the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Health Minister Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay announced on Friday that the health department has initiated the proposal process for cabinet approval.
This contractual hiring initiative aims to fill critical vacancies, potentially bringing in around 2,000 doctors and 8,000 to 10,000 nurses. The minister highlighted that while regular recruitment through the public service commission can take 18-24 months, the department cannot afford to wait. Contractual doctors would also be permitted private practice.
However, the plan faces opposition. Bhaswati Mukherjee of Nurses Unity questioned the fate of previously advertised positions and expressed concerns about existing vacancies. The Association of Health Service Doctors warned that contractual appointments could negatively impact accountability, deter talent, and lead to higher attrition rates.
