Maha plans to recruit 16,000 health staff amid Covid spike

Govt aims to bring down burden on the medical and health infrastructure

The Maharashtra government will soon issue directives for the recruitment of 16,000 posts in the health department especially during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

State Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said of the 16,000 posts, 12,000 posts will be from the C and D category while the balance 4,000 from A and B category. Of the 4,000 posts, 2,000 posts of medical officers and doctors and 2,000 posts of specialists will be filled up. Tope’s announcement came a day after the Supreme Court cancelled the 12 per cent quota in education and 13 per cent in government jobs for the Maratha community.

Tope in January had made an announcement in January this year of recruitment of 8,500 of the total 17,000 posts. However, the government preferred not to pursue it pending the Supreme Court order on the Maratha reservation. Various proMaratha reservation organisations had objected to Topes’ announcement.

However, with the scrapping of the Maratha quota, the government proposes to go ahead and fill up 16,000 posts in the public health department. “Generally, the state cabinet has powers to clear such mega recruitment but the powers are now with the Chief Minister in the wake of present Covid-19 cases and therefore he will soon issue the directives in this regard, said Tope.

State government had earlier allowed 50 per cent recruitment but because of the possible third wave of Covide-19, the public health department has made a strong case for the 100 per cent recruitment as the manpower is needed to combat the virus. This is important as the existing manpower and the health infrastructure are under tremendous stress fighting the virus since last year.

"In the cabinet meeting, we said that 100 per cent of the posts related to patient care need to be filled. The Cabinet has decided that this decision will be taken at the level of the Public Health Department, Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Minister in the next 2-3 days. The government will immediately hold exams for recruitment” said Tope.