Senior Residents to now get Rs 1 Lakh, Super Specialists Rs 1.3 Lakh- Stipend Hike for Himachal Doctors
Shimla: In a major move to address the shortage of medical specialists in the state, the Himachal Pradesh government has announced a stipend hike for doctors, ranging from 50% to 170%. Senior residents and tutor specialists will now receive Rs 1 lakh per month, up from the earlier Rs 60,000– Rs 65,000, while super specialists’ stipends have been raised to Rs 1.30 lakh.
The decision aims to make government service more appealing to skilled medical professionals and fill the 376 vacant specialist posts across the state's medical colleges. The government also announced that doctors on study leave would continue to draw full pay, further incentivising retention and career growth.
Speaking on the development, the statement issued by the government said, as quoted by PTI, "In a bid to attract medical specialists to work in Himachal Pradesh, their monthly stipends have been raised by 50 to 170 per cent. The stipend of senior residents/tutor specialists has been increased from Rs 60,000/65,000 to Rs 1 lakh, while the stipend of super specialists has been raised from Rs 60,000/65,000 to Rs. 1.30 lakh. Doctors on study leave will also receive full pay."
Currently, Himachal Pradesh has six medical colleges and one super-speciality hospital. However, of the 751 sanctioned posts across the state’s medical colleges, only 375 are currently filled, leaving 376 specialist doctor positions vacant, a gap that has significantly impacted healthcare delivery.
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The government said it was trying to fix an urgent problem by enhancing the stipends.
The raise is expected to make government service more attractive to skilled medical professionals, helping bridge this critical gap and strengthening healthcare services at all levels, the statement said.
According to health department data, 9.5 lakh patients travel outside Himachal Pradesh annually for treatment, resulting in an economic loss of Rs 1,350 crore to the state’s GDP.
If quality healthcare services are made available within the state, it is estimated that Rs 550 crore of the state GDP could be saved annually, along with valuable time for patients, the statement added.
