The Punjab Government today extended the age limit of Specialist Doctors of service from 60 to 65 years. Now, the specialist doctors would serve in the Health & Family Welfare Department of Punjab even after their retirement.Disclosing this here today, the Health & Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that in order to fulfil the paucity of Specialist doctors in the Government Hospitals, the State Government was decided to extend the age limit of Specialist doctors to make them eligible to serve in the department. He said that Health is the foremost plank of Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government and no stone would be left unturned for the transformation of this key sector.The Health Minister further said that Administrative Department is also actively considering hiring specialists such as Gynecologists, Surgeons, Orthopadicians, Radiologists, Anaesthetists, etc as consultants against the vacant 384 posts till such time regular appointments are made against these posts. He said that initially each consultant may be appointed for a period of one year on contract basis which may be extended year to year subject to satisfactory performance of duties. The remuneration allowed to such consultants shall in no case be more than the last pay drawn minus pension.
He added that these consultants shall only be appointed for performing clinical duties and shall in no case be assigned any administrative duties. He also instructed the administrative department to maintain 100 percent transparency in the recruitment procedure and appointments of such consultants shall be carried out on merit basis and stations be allotted on merit basis. Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu also said that the maximum age for appointment of consultant for a period of one year shall be 64 years and under no circumstances shall a consultant be retained upon attaining the age of 65 years of age. He said that the consultant shall not be allowed to carry out private practice during such time that they are on contract with the government. He also said that the engagement of the consultant shall be strictly on contractual basis and other terms and conditions shall be regulated as per the guidelines of the Finance Department issued from time to time in this regard and it will be strictly non- transferable.“DHS may formulate objective criteria for selection and details of posts/Speciality with station may be mentioned at official website of health department”, he added.