All Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) in the state have been instructed by Dr. Brijesh Rathore, Director General of Medical Health, to think about extending the contracts of physicians who are now employed temporarily, if they are willing to do so. The doctors in question were initially chosen in November 2023 after a walk-in recruitment process. The Directorate of Medical Health must be informed of the most recent status of open posts as well as the doctors’ desire to stay on.
A June 2017 government decision pertaining to doctors’ contractual employment states that any extension of their employment may be granted for a maximum of one year, if the doctors’ performance and suitability for the position are judged adequate. This implies that an extension may be given depending on the caliber of the doctor’s work, but after two years of service—one year of original employment plus one extension—the doctor is no longer eligible for any extensions. When it is next held, these physicians can reapply by taking part in a walk-in recruitment procedure.
Nine specialists and about 200 MBBS physicians are currently employed under contractual agreements in different areas throughout the state. There is a severe shortage of medical experts in the state; there are roughly 7,000 open positions out of 19,000 authorized positions. Because of this shortfall, it is essential to keep the doctors who are already under contract in order to guarantee that healthcare services will continue.
The contractual physicians’ pay is determined by the city or region in which they operate. The honorarium differs for cities that fall into one of the following grades: A, B, C, or D. MBBS physicians in Grade A cities like Lucknow, Prayagraj, Agra, and Ghaziabad are paid ₹50,000 a month. However, in order to draw in professionals, Grade D cities—which are located further from the state capital—offer greater salaries; MBBS doctors in these places make ₹65,000 a month. The monthly salary for specialists in Grade A cities is ₹80,000, whilst those in Grade D cities are paid ₹1,20,000.
Addressing the healthcare staffing shortage and guaranteeing the availability of physicians in underserved areas depend heavily on the state’s continuous efforts to retain medical professionals through contractual employment and competitive wages.
SOURCE :
HINDUSTAN TIMES
