Punjab to Hire Retired Doctors as Professors

The Punjab government is set to recruit retired doctors and private sector medical professionals as contract professors and associate professors, as reported by 24NewsHD TV on Monday. The eligibility criteria stipulate that candidates must be 65 years of age or younger. This recruitment drive follows several vacancies in different medical specialties across the state.

Interested candidates have until November 5 to apply for these positions. The initiative aims to fill 12 crucial departments facing a shortage of faculty members, including Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Anaesthesia, Pulmonology, Oncology, Radiology, Biochemistry, Forensic Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatric Surgery, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, and Paediatric Cardiology.

The appointment period can extend up to three years, until the age of 65, or until a permanent candidate is selected through promotion or the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), whichever occurs first. Senior doctors have welcomed the move, as it may offer opportunities for junior doctors who have been struggling to work under supervision due to the unoccupied positions.

However, some individuals have raised concerns, fearing that hiring contract professors could undermine the permanent structure of medical education and impact the career progression of doctors serving in government institutions. The move also raises apprehensions about increased administrative control and the potential for senior academic appointments to be influenced by officials.

The Punjab government has yet to address the policy's rationale or respond to the concerns raised by medical professionals.