Doctor Shortage: 11 Medical Officers deputed to Chandigarh

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh Health department is currently reeling under the shortage of staff even after deputing eleven Medical Officers (MO) from Haryana and Punjab.

According to UT health secretary Yashpal Garg, the deputation of the MO came into force to fill the gap of the shortage of staff in the administration.

There was an immediate need for staff at the health department where only 124 MO posts have been filled and 40 posts are lying vacant. The recent appointment of the MO post did not solve the problem.

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The newly appointed MO includes doctors, senior medical officers, medical officers and dental surgeons from the said state.

The selection process

In February, UT adviser Dharam Pal came to know about the shortage of MO and the available post. He asked to depute the new MO from Punjab and Haryana. However, UPSC was also contacted for direct recruitment of MO.

Meanwhile, an interview was created to select the MO based on merit. The panel was headed by the health secretary as chairman, and the director of health services and director-principal, GMCH-32, as members. The selection process was done smoothly and eleven MO were selected.

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On Thursday, Yashpal Garg told HT, "The committee scrutinized the record of persons recommended in the panels and had personal interactions to assess their suitability for deputation in Chandigarh. The recommendations were also placed before the UT adviser for final decision and 11 MOs were appointed. Meanwhile, the health department has received another panel of 30 MOs (allopathic) from Punjab and 44 MOs (allopathic) from Haryana.

The service record of these officers is being scrutinised and they will be called for personal interaction by the screening committee."