Punjab Govt appoints 482 Medical Officers to meet doctor shortage

Chandigarh: Punjab Health and Family Welfare Balbir Singh Sidhu recently handed over appointment letters to 482 medical officers, including 107 specialist doctors, in a move that the Chief Minister said would help further strengthen the state's health infrastructure amid the Covid pandemic.

The 107 specialist doctors, who are likely to be assigned to District and Sub-Divisional Hospitals to meet the shortage of such doctors there, include 19 ENT, 32 Pathologist, 7 Medicine, 18 Ophthalmologist, 4 Psychiatrists, 11 Skin and 16 Ortho specialists. The 375 new Medical Officers (General) will help overcome the shortage in emergency services.

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The move, which will give a boost to Punjab's fight against Covid, is also part of the state government's strategic focus on providing employment to youth under Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's visionary `Ghar Ghar Rozgar' scheme. Under this flagship scheme, the Health Department had recruited a total of 7000 doctors and paramedical staff from 2017 till 2019, while recruitment to another 3940 posts is in process.

The Chief Minister later told a virtual Covid review meeting that the new recruits of the Health & Family Welfare Department were expected to join immediately and render their services towards Covid response. He also directed the Department of Medical Education & Research to also expedite its recruitments and plan for regular recruitment for technicians.

At his residence earlier, the Health Minister, pledged the newly recruited medical officers (general) and specialist doctors to take up their duties with commitment and sincerity, and join the state's efforts to battle Coronavirus with responsibility. Urging them to treat all patients without discrimination, he expressed the confidence that they would serve honestly and contribute to further improve the Covid situation, which was currently under control in Punjab, and also to help boost the overall health services in the state.

The Minister noted that the Health staff in the state had been working tirelessly to save lives from the pandemic since March 2020. They had served patients with dedication, putting their own lives on the line, he pointed out, adding that the state government, on its part, was supporting these Covid warriors in every possible way. Apart from Rs 50 lakh financial assistance for family members of a health workers who dies, unfortunately, dies in the fight against Coronavirus, a host of other welfare measures were in place to help them, he added.

Congratulating the newly appointed doctors, Director Health Services Dr. Manjit Singh encouraged them to work hard to provide good health services and treat patients well. OSD to Health Minister Dr. Balwinder Singh and Director Cooperative Bank Mohali Mr. Harkesh Chand Sharma were also present on the occasion.

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