Fortifying its defence against the novel coronavirus and to effectively tackle the increasing patient load in government hospitals, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval to fill more than 4000 posts in the state’s Health and Medical Education Departments.
In all, 3,954 existing vacant regular posts in the Health Department, and 291 posts in the Medical Education and Research Department will be filled.“Out of total 3,954 posts in the Health Department, 2,966 would be filled in the first phase and the remaining 988, which would fall vacant on September 30, 2020, in the next phase,” said the spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
The Cabinet also gave approval to continue the recruitment of Medical Officers (Specialists) to be conducted by a Special Selection Committee headed by Dr KK Talwar through a walk-in interview.
Likewise, the Cabinet also gave nod for recruitment of doctors, paramedics and other staff to be done through Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, by taking the recruitment out of the purview of Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) and Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB).
The decision of filling these posts through BFUHS has been taken in view of acute urgency amid global COVID-19 pandemic as earlier the recruitment of Group A and B posts was conducted through PPSC and group C and D through PSSSB. Spokesperson said that out of 2,966 posts, 235 Medical Officers (General), one Medical Officer Specialist (Microbiologist), four Medical Officers Specialist (Social Preventive Medicine), 35 Medical Officers (Dental), 598 Staff Nurses, 180 Pharmacists (Pharmacy Officer), 600 Multipurpose Health Workers (Female) and 200 Multipurpose Health Workers (Male), 139 Radiographers, 44 Dialysis Technicians, 116 Operation Theatre Assistants, 14 ECG Technicians besides 800 Ward Attendants would be recruited.
Apart from these, the Cabinet also decided to recruit 265 Medical Officers (General), 323 Medical Officers Specialist, Pharmacist (Pharmacy Officers) 302 and 98 MLT (Grade-2) against the total 988 posts falling vacant on September 30, 2020.
The Cabinet also approved exemption in upper age limit up to 45 years at the time of recruitment to those employees already working on contract or outsourced basis in different wings or institutions of the Health and Family Welfare Department in line with the similar relaxation of upper age in case of persons already in government service for the purpose of recruitment to service by direct appointment. However, no relaxation will be given in educational qualification. The exemption in the upper age limit up to 45 years has now been allowed to the said employees as they are well-versed with the functioning of the department and rendered excellent services during COVID-19 pandemic.
PASSING OUT JRs TO BE RETAINED AS SRs FOR ONE YEA
In another significant decision to combat COVID-19 pandemic, the Cabinet also accorded its approval to retain those Junior Residents, who are passing out after completing three-year post-graduation, as Senior Residents (ad-hoc) for one year against the bond given by them.
As many as 232 Junior Residents (other than PCMS category Junior Residents) would be retained against the bond given by them since 267 posts of Senior Residents are still lying vacant even after these posts were advertised recently.
The Cabinet also decided to recruit 32 Assistant Professors (Anaesthesia) on contract basis for one year and seven super specialist doctors on regular basis by the Department. Apart from this, 20 posts of Anaesthesia Technicians were also approved for one year.
