Himachal Opens Merit-Based Recruitment Route for PG Doctors from PGI, AIIMS; Can It Stem Exodus from IGMC or other Medical Colleges?
Shimla, October 18: The Himachal Pradesh government has amended its Resident Doctors Policy-2025 to facilitate the appointment of eligible postgraduate doctors from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, against vacancies of Senior Residents and Tutor Specialists in the state's government medical colleges.
Under the revised policy, eligible doctors from the two premier institutions will be selected on the basis of merit in their MBBS and postgraduate examinations, without a written test or interview. The appointments will be made under the 33.33 per cent quota reserved for direct candidates, according to a statement issued by the Department of Public Relations on Sunday.
The Department of Medical Education has incorporated a new clause into the existing policy to facilitate the recruitment of qualified specialists and strengthen specialised healthcare services in the state.
However, the policy change raises a larger question: Will easier recruitment be enough to attract and retain specialist doctors when the government has not announced enhanced pay packages and other benefits comparable to those available at PGIMER, AIIMS or in the private healthcare sector?
Recruitment made easier, but what about salaries and benefits?
The amendment simplifies the selection process for eligible postgraduate doctors from PGIMER and AIIMS. However, the government has not announced any enhanced remuneration package or additional benefits alongside the policy change, including a revised Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) package comparable to those available at premier medical institutions or in the private sector.
For highly qualified doctors, the decision to join or remain in a government medical college is not determined by recruitment procedures alone. Pay, allowances, career progression, opportunities for super-speciality training, research facilities, access to advanced medical technology and working conditions can all influence their choices.
Unless Himachal Pradesh can offer a competitive compensation structure and professional opportunities, simplifying recruitment may not be sufficient to attract the desired number of specialists or retain doctors already working in the state.
Will IGMC continue to lose doctors to premier institutions?
The issue is particularly relevant to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and other government medical institutions, where doctors seeking advanced training and better career prospects may look towards premier institutions outside the state.
The new provision creates a route for postgraduate doctors trained at PGIMER and AIIMS to join Himachal's government medical colleges. It does not, however, directly address the concerns of doctors seeking higher qualifications, better remuneration or improved professional opportunities.
The government has not announced a corresponding package of higher pay and benefits to make state institutions financially competitive with premier national institutes and private hospitals.
The question therefore remains whether the revised recruitment policy will attract specialists in sufficient numbers without parallel measures to improve service conditions and career incentives.
Recruitment is only one part of the solution
The government has stated that its broader objective is to strengthen government medical colleges, expand opportunities for postgraduate medical education and improve the availability of specialised healthcare.
The impact of the amendment will depend on the response from eligible candidates, the number of vacancies filled and the extent to which appointments improve specialist availability in government hospitals.
For Himachal Pradesh, the challenge is twofold: attracting qualified doctors from premier institutions and creating conditions that encourage doctors already serving in the state to stay.
Removing recruitment barriers may open the door to specialist doctors, but competitive salaries, NPA and other benefits, along with better career opportunities, remain important considerations in addressing the state's long-term medical staffing needs.**
