Gujarat Assembly Budget Session 2025: Health Minister Discusses Vacancies and Recruitment in the Health Sector

Gandhinagar, March 19 (NationPress) During the Budget Session 2025 of the Gujarat Assembly, state Health Minister Rushikesh Patel discussed the pressing issue of staff shortages in health centres across the Tapi and Valsad districts.

He presented comprehensive statistics, indicating that in the Tapi district, Class-1 positions are filled at 54.68 percent, Class-2 positions at 85.50 percent, and Class-3 and Class-4 positions at 76.04 percent.

In Valsad, Class-1 posts stand at 42.5 percent occupancy, Class-2 at 93.02 percent, while Class-3 and Class-4 are at 49.36 percent, according to Minister Patel.

Regarding recruitment initiatives in Tapi, the Minister mentioned that in the last two years, the government has appointed 16 College of Physicians and Surgeons-bonded doctors, 13 Postgraduate-bonded doctors, and 29 contractual doctors, bringing the total to 58 new hires.

"Among the Tapi district's 38 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 62 out of 68 Medical Officer (MO) positions are filled. In Community Health Centres (CHCs), only 4 out of 12 specialist roles are occupied, with specialists from nearby hospitals being deployed as needed. Furthermore, services under the CM Setu scheme are being leveraged to fill gaps. All 24 MO Class-2 positions are filled, while in district hospitals, 31 out of 45 Class-1 positions and 26 out of 30 Class-2 positions are filled," he stated.

In Valsad, he reported that 9 CPS-bonded, 10 PG-bonded, and 15 contractual doctors have been hired in the last two years, totaling 34.

"In PHCs, 91 out of 93 MO Class-2 roles are occupied, while in CHCs, only 11 out of 32 specialist roles are filled. Like Tapi, specialists from surrounding hospitals are periodically assigned to address shortages. All 40 MO Class-2 positions in CHCs are filled. In district hospitals, 23 out of 37 Class-1 positions and 21 out of 23 Class-2 positions are occupied.

The Minister also highlighted Gujarat's extensive recruitment strategies to tackle vacant healthcare positions.

"For Class-1 specialists, the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) has received requisitions for 1,146 positions across 12 medical specialties. Preliminary exams, except for Pediatricians and Dental Surgeons, have been completed. Final selections will follow interviews, leading to appointments. Additionally, 435 PG doctors from government medical colleges are currently undergoing appointment processes," Patel explained.

"For Class-2 Medical Officers, GPSC announced 1,921 vacancies on November 21, 2024, and January 8, 2025, attracting over 13,000 applications. The recruitment exam is set for March 30, 2025. Recruitment is also in progress for 1,903 nursing vacancies with competitive exams being held. Other paramedical positions are being filled according to the 10-year recruitment plan, and the government intends to recruit 1,479 urban health workers as part of state healthcare initiatives."

The Minister emphasized the substantial growth in medical education in Gujarat, which is anticipated to resolve staffing shortages in the long run.

In 1995, the state had merely eight medical colleges with 925 undergraduate (UG) seats, while currently, 41 colleges offer 7,250 UG seats, thereby ensuring a better availability of Class-2 doctors, Patel remarked.

Likewise, PG medical seats have surged from 688 in 1995 to 3,719 today, with an additional 1,011 PG seats approved. This expansion is predicted to help close the gap in Class-1 doctor vacancies in the upcoming years, the Minister concluded.