West Bengal plans to recruit over 2,000 doctors and up to 10,000 nursing personnel, with contractual appointments also being considered to address staff shortages.
West Bengal's state-run hospitals are set for a major staffing overhaul, with the government announcing plans to recruit more than 2,000 doctors and between 8,000 and 10,000 nursing personnel to address persistent manpower shortages across the healthcare system.
Health Minister Shardwat Mukherjee, speaking on Thursday, November 12, acknowledged the urgent need to strengthen medical facilities across the state and said the recruitment exercise would cover both medical professionals and supporting healthcare personnel.
The government is also considering contractual appointments as an interim measure to ensure hospitals do not remain short-staffed while the regular recruitment process moves forward.
Mukherjee said the Health Recruitment Board's conventional hiring procedure generally takes six to eight months to recruit healthcare staff, while the process for appointing doctors can stretch to around 18 months.
Given these extended timelines, the state intends to explore temporary engagements to bridge the gap and ensure vacancies do not affect healthcare services.
'More than 2,000 doctors will be recruited, while the estimated requirement of nursing staff is around 8,000 to 10,000. The recruitment process for supporting healthcare personnel will also be initiated,' the minister said.
He added that contractual appointments would not necessarily end once the regular recruitment exercise is completed. Doctors and nurses hired on a temporary basis could continue working if vacancies persist even after the permanent appointments are made.
In a significant provision for doctors recruited on a contractual basis, the government will also allow them to continue their private medical practice.
The proposed recruitment drive comes amid the state's recognition that public healthcare facilities require urgent strengthening.
By combining regular appointments with interim contractual engagements, the government aims to address immediate staffing requirements while working towards filling long-standing vacancies.
Published: 12 Nov 2026, 10:10 pm IST
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