Punjab's fresh push to hire docs shadowed by concerns over talent retention

Time of India

24-05-2025

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Chandigarh: Even as the Punjab govt prepares to recruit 1,000 medical officers to address the acute shortage of doctors in govt hospitals, previous recruitment drives drew a tepid response, raising doubts about the state's ability to attract and retain young medical talent.
The challenge of filling vacant posts continues to mount, casting a shadow over the success of the latest initiative.
Over the years, irregular recruitment and growing attrition compounded the doctor shortfall in Punjab. Of the 3,847 sanctioned posts for medical officers (general), only 1,885 are currently filled, leaving 1,962 posts — 51% — vacant. A similar story plays out in the specialist cadre, where only 1,108 of 2,098 sanctioned posts are occupied, resulting in 990 (47%) vacancies.
Taken together, the overall vacancy stands at nearly 50%, with 2,952 of 5,945 sanctioned posts lying unfilled across the state, according to an affidavit submitted by the chief secretary to the Punjab and Haryana high court in response to a PIL filed by Malerkotla resident Bhisham Kinger.
The last major recruitment for medical officers took place in 2024 when 400 posts were advertised after a gap of four years. Out of these, 284 candidates joined the service.
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However, many failed to report to their designated postings, undermining the objective of the drive.
The affidavit included details from Civil Hospital, Malerkotla, where on March 2 the health department posted 19 newly recruited medical officers (general), of whom only six joined. A week later, 10 more were posted, but only five of them reported to duty. In total, only 20 medical officers have joined against 39 sanctioned posts at the hospital.
Recruitment of specialists fared no better. Recently, applications were invited for 170 posts of medical officers (specialists), but only 60 joined. A 2022 recruitment attempt for 634 specialist posts saw a similarly poor response, with only a small fraction joining.
Experts point to a range of reasons behind this lacklustre response. Among the biggest deterrents is the state's pay disparity. While Punjab currently offers an entry-level salary of Rs 53,100, this is 21% lower than the central pay scale of Rs 67,100 and below Haryana's Rs 56,100.
Until 2020, medical officer's pay in Punjab was at par with that of Haryana's, but a revision later that year reduced the pay, making govt service in the state less attractive.
In addition to low salaries, doctors are frequently deployed for VVIP duties, leading to disruptions in their routine roles and overall dissatisfaction. A severe shortage of emergency medical officers has forced specialists to take on emergency and post-mortem duties, further adding to their burden.
Safety concerns at hospitals remain unaddressed, though a proposal to hire around 900 security personnel via PESCO is under process. While the state has held two rounds of paramedic recruitment in recent years, a shortfall in support staff continues to strain healthcare delivery.
With the govt's fresh initiative to hire 1,000 medical officers (general) and 170 specialists now in motion, experts have expressed scepticism about whether the drive will yield better results unless structural reforms, especially regarding pay parity, staffing support, and working conditions, are undertaken urgently.
Dr Akhil Sarin, president, Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), stated that as Punjab's public health system continued to buckle under the pressure of a persistent doctor shortage, the success of the upcoming recruitment drive would depend on the govt's ability to make public service both attractive and sustainable for young medical professionals.
"The current govt has been making consistent efforts to recruit new doctors and paramedics.
Initiatives such as the reinstatement of MACPs, a refined postgraduate policy, and the hiring of security personnel through PESCO are steps in the right direction," said Dr Sarin.
"However, to genuinely attract young talent, the govt must also address the revised salary structure — where the entry-level pay was reduced from Rs 56,100 to Rs 53,100 — and ensure that MACP benefits are extended to doctors from the post-2020 batches as well," he added.
Temporary boost to medical workforce
To partially offset the shortage of doctors in govt health facilities, the health department inducted 523 house surgeons, out of which 200 are currently posted across various stations in the state.
Additionally, the services of 255 postgraduate doctors, who are pursuing specialisation courses in medical colleges, have been placed under the health department. These doctors will serve in govt hospitals as per the bond conditions tied to their govt-sponsored education.
Court seeks progress report
In light of these concerns, the Punjab and Haryana high court directed the principal secretary, department of health, to file a detailed affidavit, specifically addressing the deficiencies highlighted by the petitioner and to provide an update on the progress of the recruitment process.
Measures to attract and retain young professionals
In a bid to strengthen its public healthcare system and address the ongoing shortage of doctors, the Punjab govt recently introduced several measures aimed at making state medical services more appealing to new and existing doctors.
These include a revision of its postgraduate (PG) policy and the revival of the assured career progression scheme, albeit in a revised form.
To encourage newly qualified MBBS graduates to join the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) cadre, the state's health department extended PG quota benefits to emergency medical officers (EMOs) serving in district and sub-divisional hospitals and doctors serving in jails.
This move is expected to incentivise young doctors to take up govt roles and alleviate the pressure on specialists who are currently required to handle general emergencies, medico-legal work, and post-mortem duties — tasks that are often outside their specialised domains.
Additionally, the govt reinstated the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme for medical officers, which was discontinued in 2021 by the previous administration.
The scheme has now been modified and will be re-launched under the new title of Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme.
Under the revised scheme, the timelines have been adjusted, with pay revisions now scheduled after five, 10, and 15 years of service. This updated scheme will apply to officers who were appointed prior to July 17, 2020, and are currently receiving pay under the Punjab Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2021.
Shortage of medics (Box)
Post | Sanctioned | Filled | Vacancy
MO (General) | 3,847 | 1,885 | 1,962
MO (Specialist) | 2,098 | 1,108 | 990
Total | 5,945 | 2,993 | 2,952
MSID:: 121379499 413 |