Punjab: Even after seven months, 320 newly recruited doctors are still waiting for their appointment letters.

Punjab: In Punjab, 320 newly recruited doctors are still waiting for their appointment letters, even though the recruitment process is largely complete, for the past almost seven months. The Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) recruitment examination was held on June 3, and Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) completed the document verification of 1,738 shortlisted candidates by July 4. These included candidates from the General, Scheduled Caste, Backward Class, Economically Weaker Section, and other categories. The verified list was subsequently sent to the office of the Director, Health and Family Welfare Department, Chandigarh, which is the final authority to issue appointment letters to the 1,000 medical officers. While 680 doctors were given joining letters during the flood crisis in September, considering the medical needs in the flood-affected areas, approximately 320 doctors are still awaiting their formal appointment letters.
Health department officials attributed the delay to the repeated imposition of the election model code of conduct due to the Tarn Taran by-election in October-November and the rural local body elections in December. The candidates said that repeated attempts to contact the department, including emailing the Health Minister, the Chief Minister’s office, and senior officials, have yielded no response. “This delay is very frustrating. We are ready to serve in government hospitals, but there is no clarity regarding our joining,” said one candidate. Earlier, the state government had announced that the appointment letters would be distributed at a ceremony in Chandigarh on September 1, but the event was canceled at the last minute for unknown reasons. Subsequently, around 650 newly recruited doctors were deployed on 15-day emergency flood duty without formal appointment letters. According to senior officials, the process is now almost complete. “We expect the letters to be issued this week,” the officials said.