Punjab Health Dept Hires Private Doctors to Fill Gaps

The Punjab Directorate of Health and Family Welfare has empowered civil surgeons to conduct walk-in interviews for specialists. This measure aims to address the critical shortage of nearly 50% in sanctioned specialist positions across the state's public health infrastructure. The empanelment process, initially for district and sub-divisional hospitals, now extends to Community Health Centres.

Specialists will be engaged on a per-patient and per-procedure fee basis. Thirteen specialties, including medicine, surgery, and pathology, are covered. The health department has directed civil surgeons to hold interviews on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Appointed doctors must join within 14 days, or their selection will be invalidated.

This approach follows the government's earlier approval to empanel up to 300 doctors. The decision comes as the state has not conducted regular recruitment for medical specialists since 2022, leading to concerns about the sustainability of this ad hoc arrangement and potential privatization. The health minister emphasized the priority to provide quality healthcare despite specialists often preferring the private sector for higher pay.