Himachal Pradesh approves 78 per cent salary hike for specialist medical officers
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Shimla: In a major boost to specialist doctors serving in the state’s public healthcare system, the Himachal Pradesh government has approved a 78 per cent increase in the monthly remuneration of contract and job trainee medical officers (specialists).
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Wednesday that the monthly remuneration has been increased from Rs 33,660 to Rs 60,000.
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The latest revision follows the previous salary hike implemented in 2022 based on recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. At that time, the remuneration of contract and job trainee medical officers was increased from around Rs 27,000 to Rs 33,660 per month.
The state government said the latest increase is aimed at attracting more specialist doctors and encouraging them to serve in government health institutions, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Earlier, the government had revised the stipends of postgraduate medical students in government medical colleges. Under the revised structure, first-year postgraduate students receive Rs 50,000 per month, while second-year and third-year students receive Rs 60,000 and Rs 65,000, respectively.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu recently declared a substantial hike in the monthly stipend for postgraduate resident doctors. From the next budget, PG residents will receive Rs 50,000, Rs 60,000 and Rs 65,000 in their first, second and third year respectively, while the stipend for senior residents has been raised to Rs 1 lakh, and Rs 1.3 lakh in super-speciality departments.
The stipends of senior residents and tutor specialists have also been increased to Rs 1 lakh per month, while super specialists and senior residents in super-speciality disciplines receive Rs 1.30 lakh per month.
Sukhu said healthcare and education remain his government’s top priorities, adding that the latest salary revision would further improve medical services and strengthen the state’s public healthcare system, reports the Economic Times.
