In a bid to bridge the crunch of physicians in administrative hospitals, Delhi health division has nominated 318 general duty medics and 204 non-teaching specialist physicians in the newly set up Delhi Health Service Cadre.

Delhi administration owns 32 major medical institutions and 250 dispensaries crosswise the city.

Dr. AK Walia, Delhi health minister stated, “Thus far, these hospitals were manned by doctors from the central health service.”

Because of postponements in appointment by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Delhi administration had also hired physicians on contract basis from 1998 onwards.

Dr. Walia also said, “After the de-cadrement of general duty medical officers and non-teaching specialist doctors from the Central Health Service, approvals were granted for constitution of the Delhi Health Service and the same was notified in 2009. And today we have been able to appoint 522 doctors.”

As per Delhi administration, medicos working on contract were evaluated for suitability by the Union Public Service Commission, and now the majority of them have been nominated in the initial constitution of Delhi Health Service Cadre.

Dr. Walia added that the attempts were also on to take similar actions in case of teaching specialist physicians and public health specialists for which alternatives have already been sought.

In total, 259 general duty medics and 79 non-teaching specialists of the CHS chose Delhi cadre.