Health Ministry Notifies New Guidelines For Appointing HoDs in 3 Central Govt Hospitals

In its recent OM, the Ministry informed that the Standing Selection Committee constituted by the Ministry will comprise the DGHS as the Chairman, Medical Superintendent (MS) of the Safdarjung Hospital (SJH) as a member, MS of Dr RML Hospital as a member, Director of MS of LHMC hospital as a member. The panel shall also include a representative from any MAMC/BSAMC/GB Pant Hospital as a member.

Tenure of the Standing Selection Committee:

The Ministry has informed that the tenure of the Standing Selection Committee will be standing and approval for the external member would be taken from the Ministry from time to time.

Application Procedure & Issuance of Notice for Selection of HoDs:

The Health Ministry informed that the information regarding vacancies will have to be submitted by the MS/ Director at least 03 (three) months in advance to the office of DGHS. The office of DGHS shall advertise vacancies so arising well in advance.

"It shall ensure wide publicity of the advertisement through MSs in all hospitals. Secretarial assistance in this process will be provided by Hospital-I Section of MoHFW," the Ministry mentioned in the guidelines.

The guidelines further added that the notice for vacancies must be widely publicized by DteGHS by posting it on the websites including the Ministry’s website and adequate number of notice boards of all three CG Hospitals.

In the said notice, applications will be invited from interested and eligible candidates (CHS officers posted at any of the central institutions) for the vacancies. After receipt of applications, the Standing Selection Committee, constituted for the purpose, will carry out the selection process.

Eligibility Criteria:

The Ministry guidelines stated that all the CHS officers in the Pay Level-14 of the Pay Matrix are eligible for the post of HoD.

However, in case there is no eligible applicant, the Selection Committee may decide inviting applications from CHS doctors in pay level-13 subject to they fulfill the other eligibility criteria. 

Earlier, in its OM dated 28.03.2024, the Ministry had mentioned in its guidelines that "To avoid any kind of anomaly, CHS officers in the Pay Level-13 of Pay Matrix may not be considered to become HoD."

Qualification and Experience:

Previously, the guidelines released in March stated that the eligibility criterion for applying to the post would be that the candidate should be a CHS officer having PG qualification in the speciality. In super speciality, the essential qualification shall be MCH or DM in the concerned discipline, the Ministry had clarified, adding that candidates with 3 years' of experience (after PG) in that super-speciality may be considered in the absence of DM/MCH candidate.

However, in the new guidelines released last week, the Ministry referred to clause 3.9 of the notification dated 14.02.2022, Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022 which states, "The Heads of the Departments of broad and super specialty courses shall possess a recognized Postgraduate broad specialty and super specialty degree, as the case may be, in the concerned specialty. This mandatory requirement is relaxed for five more years from the date of notification of this Regulation to all the Broad and Super Specialty courses which were started after 01 January, 2009."

"If a seat is falling vacant in any of the three medical colleges within 6 months, a common/ clubbed interview may be carried out. However, result prepared will be kept confidential and will be declared approximately 15 days before the seat falls vacant. In such cases, candidate may declare his preference or order of preference where he/she would like to work," the Ministry clarified.

How to Apply:

The Ministry has informed that the application form can be filled, and then scanned application form can be submitted electronically by the candidates via email to membersecy-mohfw@gov.in after getting it verified from MS/ Director, with the remarks about his/ her vigilance clearance at hospital level along with integrity certification.

Original application form may be deposited at the time of the interview by the candidate himself/ herself. The candidate will be informed about date, time and venue of interview through email by the office of the SSC (Standard Selection Committee), added the guidelines.

Recommendation of a Panel:

The Ministry informed that the zone of consideration would be the top five senior most applicants among all the applications received. However, if none of them are found suitable, the next three candidates may be considered.

As per the guidelines, the selection committee would finalise a panel not less than 3 candidates in order of preference in the prescribed format mentioning position in the Seniority list/ Batch year, Rank, Date of Joining in service and Date of joining in present grade.

In case, a junior official is recommended in the preference order by surpassing senior(s), a justification must be recorded by the Committee to this effect. The appointment order shall issued accordingly by the respective hospital administration/concerned institute/ organisation.

Details of the Panel:

The Guidelines clarify that after assessing the candidature of all the candidates, the committee will prepare a panel of minimum 03 (three) officers for each post of HoD to avoid any kind of inconvenience in future. The Committee will forward its recommendation in a sealed cover to the Director/ MS of the Hospital or Institute concerned for further appropriate action by following the said norms. The Committee will also endorse a copy of the recommendations to the JS/AS of CHS in the MoHFW.

Eligibility for Consideration:

The Health Ministry has specified in the guidelines that the selection committee will assess the APAR for last five years of the candidate. Integrity of the candidate should be beyond doubt and he/ she must be clear from vigilance angle.

Further, the candidate has to make a presentation, by including his/ her achievements, past experience and his prospective vision and goals towards betterment of services of his department, before the Committee. Thereafter, the Committee will interview the candidate on detail subjects.

In case after the interview and consideration of above criteria, if there is a tie between two candidates, seniority/ rank in CHS cadre will be considered.

Backlog of Vacancies/Routine Vacancies:

As per the rules, initially, since, there is a backlog of existing vacancies, only those can apply who have one year of service on the date of advertisement (means he/she has to be less than 61 years of age on the referred date).

In the subsequent process of routine appointment of HoDs, only those candidates can apply who have at least one-year minimum residual service left on the date on which vacancy arises (means he/she has to be less than 61 years of age on the referred date).

Other Clarifications issued by the Ministry-

Maximum duration as HoD in service:

The guidelines specify that the selection of HoD shall be for one term of 03 (three) years only or till attaining 62 years of age, whichever is earlier. Maximum number of terms as HoD for any person shall be 02 (two) terms during the entire service to provide opportunity to other willing officials to become HoD in their service life.

For the Second term as HoD, acting on reference by MS/ Director, the Standing Selection Committee can recommend the continuation of any incumbent HoD after the end of first term based on their willingness and by giving preference to them. Only for remaining seats of HoDs, the Committee will follow the set procedure as above.

Removal from the position of HoD:

Acting on reference by MS/ Director, the Standing Selection Committee can recommend the removal of any HoD even before the completion of a tenure of 3 years with reasons to be recorded.

Whether non-teaching/ GDMOs can be appointed as HoD:

The Ministry has clarified in the guidelines that the Non-teaching specialists and GDMO Cadre officials are also eligible to become HoD. Academic activities shall be carried out under the supervision of HoD, only to avoid any kind of communication gap.

The OM released by the Ministry also includes a proforma for assessment of the suitability of candidates for the post of HoD in central government hospitals and medical colleges.