Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh govt has raised the maximum age for re-employing retired specialist doctors from 65 to 70 years to plug shortage of specialists in govt hospitals until regular appointments are made, an official spokesperson said on Wednesday.“The decision, approved by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, will allow retired specialists from the Provincial Medical and Health Services (PMHS) cadre to continue providing services amid a rising patient load in state hospitals,” they said.Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak said the move would help ensure continuity of specialist healthcare, particularly for poor and deprived sections of society. “Ensuring adequate availability of doctors, especially specialists, is essential in public interest and for continuity of medical services,” he said.Additional chief secretary, medical and health, Amit Kumar Ghosh said 500 non-cadre posts would be created for re-employment of retired PMHS specialist doctors. Recruitment will be through walk-in interviews on a contractual basis.The re-employed specialists will initially be appointed until regular doctors are posted against the vacancies or for one year, whichever is earlier. Their tenure may subsequently be extended annually based on their performance, conduct, medical fitness and other prescribed criteria, subject to the upper age limit of 70 years.The 500 posts will be determined district-wise every year by govt based on recommendations of the director general, medical and health services. The number of posts under the arrangement cannot exceed 500 at any point. Once regular specialists are appointed, the corresponding non-cadre posts will automatically cease to exist.The re-employed doctors will work as consultants and will not be given administrative posts or cadre designations. They will also be required to provide emergency and casualty services as per the needs of the hospital.Ghosh said the existing provision allowing re-employment of retired MBBS doctors up to 65 years would remain unchanged. Specialists retiring from the armed forces after completing their prescribed service age, as well as MBBS doctors, will also be eligible for re-employment under the provisions.The arrangement comes with a strict bar on private practice. Re-employed specialists will have to prescribe only medicines available under govt rules and any private practice or violation of conditions could lead to immediate termination.Their re-employment period will not count towards pension benefits. Services may also be terminated with one month’s notice if performance is found unsatisfactory, while doctors seeking to leave will similarly have to give one month’s notice.Ghosh said using the experience of retired specialists alongside regular recruitment would strengthen the state’s healthcare system and improve timely access to quality medical care.
