Health Minister Announces Plans for Specialist Recruitment Amidst Staffing Shortage

In the ongoing Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij revealed plans to address the significant shortage of medical officers and senior medical officers in the state. Responding to Congress MLA Jagbir Malik's query, Vij acknowledged the shortage, citing over 26% vacancies in the medical officer cadre and 38% vacancies in the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) positions. Despite the recruitment of 608 medical officers over the past nine years, the shortage persists, prompting the Health Department's initiative to hire specialists under a separate cadre.

"The CM has approved the same, and it is pending with the Finance Department," stated Vij, outlining the impending recruitment drive and the strategic deployment of specialists based on healthcare demands.

Meanwhile, CM Manohar Lal Khattar backed Minister of State for Printing and Stationery Sandeep Singh's response to questions regarding the condition of sports stadiums in Jhajjar. When objected to by Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal, who argued Singh was not the Sports Minister, Khattar defended Singh's right to respond, asserting the collective responsibility of the council of ministers. 

In another development, Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister Kamal Gupta addressed concerns raised by MLA Neeraj Sharma regarding complaints about wards of the Faridabad Municipal Corporation (MC). Gupta informed the House that investigations into the matter had been assigned to the MC Commissioner, with a committee formed to probe the allegations. He further noted that the names of officers involved in payments and recommendations mentioned in the CAG report and ACB investigation report had been provided.

However, Sharma expressed dissatisfaction with the scope of the investigation, questioning why payments made after 2020 were not under scrutiny despite substantial releases of funds during that period.

The developments underscored ongoing efforts by the Haryana government to address critical staffing shortages in the healthcare sector while also navigating opposition criticisms and ensuring accountability in municipal affairs.