West Bengal government to recruit diploma holders in medical health services

West Bengal government has announced its plan to hire diploma holders to boost up its medical health services in the state. This initiative is in view to address the situation of shortage of doctors in the recently established super speciality hospitals here.

The recruitment process will be conducted and monitored by the West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB). The state government is intending to make the appointment as soon as possible to address the situation.

Shashi Panja, MOS health, implied that advertisement have already been issued, however, there are many doctors who are not yet willing to work in rural hospitals. Following which, the state government has taken the decision to hire diploma holders and fill the vacant posts.

According to the statistics made available by the state health department to the media, appointment letters were issued to 2417 general duty medical officers, 115 block medical officers of health and 262 specialist doctors. Since 2011, 7450 MBBS medical officers have been appointed in the state by the WBHRB.

Senior officials of the state government implied that hiring of 150 dental surgeons was recommended by the WBHRB.

WBHRB is also planning to take out ads for recruiting 417 resident medical officers cum clinical tutors under West Bengal Medical Education Service in July 2016. The appointed panel for selection of candidates is expected to complete the process by January 2017.

A requisition has already been sent by the West Bengal Health service regarding recruitment of 2418 GDMOs under WBHS. It is likely that the WBHRB recommendation will be received by December 2016.

The state health department also implied that almost 13,600 medical staff needs to be made available for the recently established super-speciality hospitals here. The appointment of specialists in rural areas poses a bigger challenge. There are rural districts like Purulia,Bankura and West Midnapore, where many doctors are not willing to go. Besides, a shortage of almost 6,000 specialists in state run hospitals is confirmed.

The new superspeciality hospitals have an intake capacity of almost 500 patients each