The specialist doctors in Punjab can now serve for another five years in the state Health and Family Welfare Department even after their retirement. For, the Punjab Government on Friday announced to extend the age limit of its specialist doctors’ service from 60 to 65 years.
“To fulfil the paucity of specialist doctors in the Government Hospitals, the State Government has decided to extend the age limit of specialist doctors to make them eligible to serve in the Department,” said the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Friday.
He said that health is the foremost plank of Capt Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government and no stone would be left unturned for the transformation of this key sector.
The Health Minister further said that administrative department is also actively considering hiring specialists such as Gynecologists, Surgeons, Orthopadicians, Radiologists, Anaesthetists, etc as consultants against 384 vacant posts till the time regular appointments are made against these posts.
He said that initially, each consultant may be appointed for a period of one year on contract basis which may be extended year-to-year subject to satisfactory performance of duties. The remuneration allowed to such consultants shall in no case be more than the last pay drawn minus pension.
These consultants shall only be appointed for performing clinical duties and shall in no case be assigned any administrative duties, clarified the Minister while issuing instructions to the administrative department to maintain 100 percent transparency in the recruitment procedure. Appointments of such consultants shall be carried out on merit basis and stations be allotted on merit basis, he added.
Sidhu said that maximum age for appointment of consultant for a period of one year shall be 64 years and under no circumstances shall a consultant be retained upon attaining the age of 65 years of age.
He said that the consultant shall not be allowed to carry out private practice during such time that they are on contract with the Government. The engagement of the consultant shall be strictly on contractual basis and other terms and conditions shall be regulated as per the guidelines of the Finance Department issued from time to time in this regard and it will be strictly non-transferable, he added.
“The Director Health Services (DHS) may formulate objective criteria for
selection and details of posts or speciality with station may be mentioned at official website of health department,” he added.