Centre plans to re-employ docs on contract basis after retirement

Chandigar: The Centre is mulling to re-employ doctors in central hospitals on a contract basis who would wish to offer their services after retirement, Health Minister JP Nadda on Sunday said here.

“After their retirement, if they want to come, we are planning to bring them for service on contract basis in central hospitals, including AIIMS,” Nadda said while speaking here as chief guest at the 15th annual celebration of Himachal Maha Sabha, a body of people from Himachal Pradesh living in Chandigarh.

Nadda was referring to a number of top doctors who originally hail from the state but were employed with or retired from top hospitals in Chandigarh region and elsewhere.

Pointing to former PGIMER director S K Sharma, leading cardiologist and Executive Director of Fortis hospital, Mohali, Dr T S Mahant, orthopaedician Dr Ramesh Sen, opthalmologist Dr Jagat Ram and others who were present in the gathering here, Nadda said these doctors from the state had made every Himachali proud.

“If I get the opportunity in future, I want to take full benefit of their expertise in Himachal Pradesh,” he told the gathering.

He also said the new AIIMS which are being set up at different places across the country, sarais (resting places) will be set up in PPP mode for the benefit of attendants of patients who find difficulty in searching for accommodation.

Earlier in his speech, Nadda talked how Himachal Pradesh was blessed with clean and pollution-free environment and also recalled having raised the issue with Planning Commission earlier about how the state was acting as “lungs” for entire north India in providing clean and green environment.

“I had earlier raised the issue that we protect environment…We should be compensated. You will be happy to know that today it is being discussed that Himachal, Uttarakhand, how these states can be compensated by Government Of India, from environmental point of view and how these states will benefit,” he said.

Nadda also recalled how once former Himachal Pradesh Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri, who was not native of the state, was amazed to see clear blue sky in the state when he arrived there.

“He had then said that first time in his life he had seen such clear blue sky…Environmentally, we are blessed, what we have got, not everyone is so lucky to have this. ‘Dev Bhoomi’ (land of Gods) we are referred to because there is something in its land and environment, which makes it distinct”.

—PTI