The Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors Association (TNRDA) has urged the State government to ensure that the posts of doctors and nurses in Urban Health and Wellness Centres (UHWC) are filled through regular recruitment as opposed to short-term contractual appointments.
In a release, the association, while acknowledging the government’s initiative to strengthen urban healthcare by establishing 208 additional UHWCs, raised key concerns on contractual appointment of medical personnel to these facilities.
It said that contract-based employment led to high attrition rates, and affected the continuity of care. Salaries lacked parity with permanent positions.
Priority should be given to candidates who cleared the Medical Services Recruitment Board exam 2025 and attended the certificate verification process for permanent appointments rather than reintroducing temporary recruitment, it added.
The State government and Health Department should avoid contractual employment that leads to workforce instability and ensure fair pay, benefits and long-term career growth for healthcare workers, M. Keerthy Varman, TNRDA’s general secretary, said in the release.
Published – March 15, 2025 11:59 pm IST