In a landmark decision, the Punjab Cabinet approved the empanelment of 300 specialist doctors across 12 essential disciplines to address chronic staff shortages in government healthcare facilities. The specialties include Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Chest & TB, Orthopaedics, Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, ENT, and Anaesthesiology.
These specialists, appointed at district level based on district civil-surgeon recommendations, will be remunerated on a per-patient basis — covering OPD, IPD, emergency calls, surgeries, and procedures. The measure aims to bolster Punjab’s secondary-care capacity, reduce patient load on urban hospitals, and improve access to quality medical treatment in rural regions. The Cabinet also sanctioned additional incentives for doctors and teachers serving in border districts, to overcome previous reluctance for remote postings.
Healthcare experts note this as a timely intervention, given the rising demand for specialist care. The initiative is expected to improve patient outcomes, reduce mortality in critical cases, and offer much-needed employment opportunities to qualified medical professionals across the state.
