Haryana Health Department faces acute staff shortage with 5,384 vacant posts

Chandigarh: Vacancies across the Haryana health department have emerged as a major concern, with 5,384 posts lying vacant in key medical and paramedical categories, according to official data presented in the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday. 

According to the news reports, out of 21,296 sanctioned positions, only 15,912 are currently filled, leaving critical gaps in frontline healthcare delivery. The vacancies include 777 medical officers, 219 senior medical officers, 706 male multipurpose health workers (MPHWs), 597 female MPHWs, and 488 staff nurses.

Also Read:Haryana announces recruitment of 450 doctors amid staff shortages

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Haryana government has announced plans to recruit 450 doctors for government hospitals as the state continues to face shortages across public healthcare facilities. The department is expected to finalise the recruitment schedule in the coming weeks.

Specialised services are also facing acute shortages. As many as 438 laboratory technician posts, 385 pharmacy officer posts, 105 radiographer posts, and 194 dental assistant-cum-mechanic posts are lying vacant. Several senior nursing positions—including chief nursing officer (33 posts), public health nurse (111 posts), and assistant matron (23 posts)—remain largely or entirely unfilled due to the absence of eligible candidates under existing service rules. In the case of ECG technicians, 108 of the 136 sanctioned posts are vacant.

While Panchkula stands out with a surplus of medical officers—156 doctors against 139 sanctioned posts—the situation is critical in districts like Karnal, which has 268 sanctioned medical officer positions but only 147 filled, leaving a shortfall of 121 doctors. Other districts facing severe shortages include Hisar (97 vacant posts), Jind (95), Yamunanagar (70), and Kaithal (69).

The state government claimed that requisitions to fill vacant posts have already been sent to the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC), Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), and departmental selection committees. Meanwhile, alternative arrangements have been made by deploying staff through the National Health Mission (NHM), HKRN, apprentices, and other contractual sources to ensure uninterrupted health services.

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