Faced with an acute shortage of staff, the Health Department has directed all doctors and staff deputed to other departments for more than five years to report back with immediate effect.

According to an order issued in this regard on Wednesday, all staff including specialist doctors working on deputation in other departments, including district hospitals and medical college hospitals run by the Medical Education Department for more than five years, should report back immediately, failing which action will be initiated as per rules. The order has been issued following mature deliberations at the highest level, sources said.

Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), told The Hindu that there are 565 doctors, including specialists, and a large number of other staff including nurses and technicians working on deputation in other departments.

More than 10-15 years

“We have noted that most of these are working in one place, mainly in urban areas, for more than 10 to 15 years. We now are working on sub-optimal utilisation of the existing resources. These doctors were deputed when the teaching hospitals were set up and can now be called back as there is a shortage of staff in the parent department. Many senior doctors are working as casualty medical officers where fresh MBBS graduates can be posted,” he said.

Mr. Gupta said many are ready to work in positions below their experience just to continue staying in the urban hospitals. “If at all there is a need, we can redistribute the existing resources equitably to ensure that others also get a chance to work in urban areas,” he said.

Critical vacancies

Pointing out that there is a need for specialists in facilities run by the Health Department, the Principal Secretary said: “As per rules if the vacancy position is more than 50% for a particular speciality, such critical vacancies should be filled on priority. Our intention is to optimally utilise the existing resources ensuring equitable distribution of specialists.”