The Association of Retired State Doctors (ARGD) has urged the state government to raise the maximum age for re-employment of retired doctors from the current 65 to 70 years. The association claimed that this move would help address the ongoing shortage of medical staff in government services.

Reemployment of retired doctors was introduced to alleviate the state’s shortage of medical personnel. Currently, there is a gap of 7,000 doctors in the state, with 19,000 sanctioned posts, of which only 12,000 are filled. To address this, an additional 1,000 posts were created for retired doctors, although the impact has been limited.

“The retirement age for doctors is set at 62, but those serving up to level IV, who are leaving administrative posts, can extend their service to 65. However, doctors at level IV and above are not coming back in large numbers, which is hampering the effectiveness of the re-employment initiative,” ARGD said in a letter to the chairman of the provincial medical association, a body representing state doctors in the state, which has been forwarded to the health directorate for review.

Currently, the state has made available 500 posts each for specialists and MBBS doctors under its re-employment scheme. In addition, the National Health Service (NHM) offers contracts to doctors, allowing them to continue working until the age of 70. At present, more than 300 rehired doctors are serving in various district hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, helping to alleviate the shortage of medical personnel in the state.