Govt begins recruitment for vacant health sector posts to fulfil election pledges

BNP as it promised before election,  has initiated recruitment process to fill the vacant posts in the country's health sector.

It was the commitment of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to recruit one lakh health workers to ensure health services at the grassroots level.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already started recruitment process on an emergency basis for grades 13 to 16.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain has announced that 7,500 doctors and 5,000 nurses would be hired in the next three months.

Out of them, 184 doctors recruited through the 48th BCS will join the service on September 7. Among the doctors, 19 are assistant dental surgeons and 165 are assistant surgeons.

Health Services Division issued instructions seeking updated information of manpower and vacant posts in different departments and offices under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to the latest information, the total number of approved posts in the Directorate of Family Planning, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery is 2,34,024. Out of those, 73,045 posts remained vacant, which is 31.21 percent of total manpower strength.

DGHS directed the concerned officials of all health institutions in the country to take necessary measures to recruit manpower.

It said the recruitment process must be completed as soon as possible. In addition, instruction was given to take measures to quickly resolve any cases or administrative complications related to recruitment .

BNP in it election manifesto pledged to build a strong primary healthcare network across the country. For this one lakh skilled health workers would be recruited in phases, and 80 percent of them will be from women.

The election manifesto also mentioned that health is not a privilege but a fundamental right of the people. BNP's goal is to ensure universal health coverage in light of the 'Health for All' policy.

Earlier, the ministry had written to the DGHS director general to fill 34,714 vacant posts in various hospitals and health institutions as soon as possible.

DGHS Director General Professor Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas said that the initiative to fill the vacant posts in the country's health sector to ensure health services at the grassroots level has come a long way.

“We have already sent the initial Development Project Proposal (DPP) proposal to the ministry. This recruitment process will start step by step.”

Once the Ministry of Finance and Public Administration approves the proposal, we will publish the recruitment notice. We hope to be able to start the recruitment process very soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division have extended the validity of the clearance issued earlier for the recruitment of manpower in 1,855 posts from grades 11 to 20.

According to the new decision, the clearance for recruitment to these posts will be valid until June 30, 2027.

There are 1,667 posts in 17 categories at the headquarters level of the Directorate General of Family Planning and 188 posts in 4 categories at the district level under the clearance. In total, the number of posts cleared for recruitment is 1,855.

Minister Sakhawat Hossain said the recruitment process will be completed quickly and necessary measures will be taken to recruit manpower to the existing vacant posts in all government hospital.