Amidst a critical shortage of doctors in the state, the Punjab government has taken a significant step to address the issue by deciding to rehire retired medical specialists in the health department. Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh confirmed this decision, emphasizing that the move would not adversely impact job opportunities for young medical professionals.
Several rural health blocks in the state are grappling with a severe scarcity of medical specialists. Dr. Balbir Singh highlighted that to alleviate this shortage, retired medical specialists would be brought back into service until they reach the age of 65. Currently, the retirement age in the Punjab health department is set at 58.
The reemployment of doctors will be strictly on a need basis, ensuring that only hardworking medical specialists are given the opportunity to continue working beyond the age of 58, clarified Dr. Balbir. The decision was prompted by the prolonged vacancy of posts for fresh aspirants, with no new specialist doctors joining the workforce.
Explaining the practical application of the decision, Dr. Balbir stated, “For instance, if there is a post of a medical specialist lying vacant in Shutrana (a rural block of Patiala district), we will send a hardworking re-employed doctor to fill that vacancy.”
This move aligns with the health minister’s recent emphasis on creating a policy to incentivize government doctors who perform additional surgeries and attend to more patients, aiming to retain them in the public sector.
