The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced plans to recruit medical officers on a fixed salary to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in hospitals across four districts, including Mardan.
To ensure transparency in the hiring process, a grievance redressal committee has been formed at the district level. The committee will be chaired by the Special Secretary of Health and will include the Additional Secretary Health, Director HRM, and Section Officer E-2.
This body will review written complaints from candidates regarding the ongoing recruitment process in Mardan, Upper Dir, Batkhela, and Haripur. Complaints must be submitted with supporting evidence by August 10. Submissions after the deadline will not be entertained.
The Health Department reaffirmed its commitment to a fair and transparent recruitment process, emphasizing that these measures are intended to restore candidates’ trust.
The shortage of doctors in the province has been a persistent challenge. Earlier this year, the Health Department began recruiting medical officers and specialist doctors on a contract basis to strengthen district headquarters hospitals (DHQs) and improve service delivery.
In the initial phase, 115 medical officers are being deployed in various hospitals, along with 51 contract-based consultants, to activate specialized units in DHQs.
The Health Advisor, who approved the recruitment, stated that the initiative will not only provide employment to doctors but also ensure that patients can access treatment locally without traveling long distances. A key policy feature is that preference will be given to candidates from the respective areas, with appointments tied to specific hospitals to prevent transfers.
In January, the provincial government also decided to fill 248 long-vacant management cadre positions in the Health Department. Additionally, the recruitment process for 600 specialist doctors through the Public Service Commission is being fast-tracked to address the acute shortage of district-level specialists.
The Provincial Doctors Association welcomed the government’s efforts, noting that these positions had been vacant for years. Following the association’s request, the Health Advisor approved a five-year age relaxation for applicants, raising the upper age limit from 32 to 37 years to allow more doctors to apply.
The Health Advisor also directed that the hiring of 600 specialist doctors via the Public Service Commission be accelerated to ensure timely deployment in underserved areas.
