The Uttarakhand government has announced a large-scale recruitment drive to fill the vacuum left after hundreds of government doctors were dismissed for prolonged absenteeism. Officials confirmed that nearly 300 new doctors will soon be appointed across the state’s hospitals and health centres, with the aim of restoring services in both urban and rural areas.
Our correspondent reports that the decision follows the termination of 234 doctors who were found guilty of breaching service bonds and failing to report for duty in hilly and remote districts. These doctors had secured subsidised seats in state medical colleges under the condition that they serve at least five years in designated areas. Instead, many absented themselves for months or years without submitting leave applications or fulfilling their contractual obligations.
The state has taken a tough stance by not only cancelling their appointments but also initiating recovery proceedings for the bond amounts, which run into several crores of rupees. Authorities have further indicated that the names of the defaulting doctors will be forwarded to national regulatory bodies, ensuring strict accountability and deterring future violations.
To address the sudden shortfall in staffing, the Health Department has already issued appointment letters to 220 newly recruited medical officers. These doctors will be deployed quickly to strengthen services in hospitals, especially in areas where shortages had become critical. Alongside this, the process of appointing an additional 276 doctors is under way, further widening the pool of medical professionals available for government service.
Our correspondent adds that the move is expected to bring immediate relief to patients in remote districts such as Chamoli, Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Almora, and Champawat, where health facilities have long struggled with inadequate staff. Many of these areas witnessed frequent clinic closures and delays in treatment due to the lack of doctors.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has described the crackdown as part of a wider effort to instil discipline in public service. Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat stated that the government was committed to both ensuring accountability and improving accessibility to healthcare, particularly in the state’s hilly regions.
The twin measures of dismissing absentees and expediting fresh recruitment mark a significant reset in Uttarakhand’s healthcare policy. By enforcing discipline and simultaneously strengthening the system with new appointments, the government aims to provide consistent medical services while reassuring citizens that their right to accessible healthcare will not be compromised.
