The government is planning to promote more than 2,000 entry-level doctors soon, in a bid to make room for a fresh batch of doctors from the eligible pool of BCS candidates.
Officials of the Health Ministry yesterday held a meeting, presided by Joint Secretary Basu Deb Ganguly, to discuss the ways in which they can promote the entry-level doctors.
The move is being considered after the Public Service Commission (PSC) sent a list to the Public Administration Ministry recommending 6,000 new doctors, who had passed the 33rd BCS exam, be appointed as entry-level assistant surgeons or dental surgeons.
However, the public health sector currently has less than 4,000 vacancies at the entry-level, said sources at the ministry and the health directorate.
To remedy the situation and create additional vacancies, the ministry isnow reportedly considering the promotion of over 2,000 assistant surgeons to different posts including medical officers, resident medical officers, and junior consultants.
When asked about the issue, DrMd Shah Newaz, director (administration) of the health directorate, confirmed the Health Ministry meeting, but refused to disclose any details.
Ministry sources said fresh recruits were needed to fulfil the shortage of doctors, especially at the entry-level.
The PSC had initially advertised for recruitment of 2,442 doctors from the 33rd BCS examination, but later decided to allow the Health Ministry to fill up over 4,000 additional posts that had been left vacant over the years under the freedom fighter quota.
Seeking anonymity, several health officials however expressed their disappointment, claiming that the new doctors would not be qualified enough as the additional candidates for the 4,000 posts were not properly vetted.
The public health sector currently has a total of 25,554 postsfor doctors, while 15,829 of those posts are for entry-level doctors. At the moment,3,902 vacancies exist for the entry-level jobs.
