Big Relief for MBBS & PG Aspirants in Himachal, But Timeline Missing
Shimla: In what comes as a major announcement for MBBS graduates and PG medical professionals, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday told the Vidhan Sabha that the state government is set to undertake large-scale recruitment to address the acute shortage of doctors and faculty in government medical institutions.
The Chief Minister said that around 400 MBBS doctors are being recruited, along with efforts to fill vacant posts of staff nurses and radiologists.
He assured the House that within six months, no Primary Health Centre (PHC) will face staff shortages, and within a year, the state aims to move towards medical tourism by strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
In a significant move for medical education, Sukhu announced that 100 Assistant Professor posts in medical colleges will be filled through the Himachal Pradesh State Selection Commission.
He emphasized that recruitment will now be conducted through written examinations, replacing the earlier walk-in interview system to eliminate discretion and recommendations.
The government also plans to strengthen all medical colleges, beyond premier institutions like Indira Gandhi Medical College and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, ensuring better facilities and staffing.
However, despite the big-ticket announcements, the Chief Minister did not specify a clear timeline for the recruitment of doctors and faculty—an issue that continues to plague the state’s medical colleges.
Many institutions are currently running on ad-hoc arrangements, with faculty often being shifted from IGMC and Tanda to other colleges, particularly during inspections by the National Medical Commission (formerly MCI).
The opposition has repeatedly flagged that such temporary adjustments expose the fragile state of medical education and healthcare delivery in Himachal.
While the announcements offer hope to aspiring doctors and specialists, the absence of a defined recruitment schedule raises question about how soon the doctors will be recruited.
