Odisha to Recruit 1,840 Doctors and 5,000 Paramedics to Strengthen Healthcare
Focus on tribal and remote areas, medical colleges, and trauma care centres
Bhubaneswar : In a landmark move to address Odisha’s healthcare needs, the state government has announced plans to recruit 1,840 doctors and over 5,000 paramedical staff. The decision was taken during a high-level review meeting of the State Health and Family Welfare Department chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan on Monday.
Chief Minister Majhi underscored the urgent requirement to fill vacant medical positions across the state, noting that inadequate staffing continues to be a major hurdle in delivering quality healthcare. He instructed officials to conduct a rationalisation process to ensure efficient deployment of doctors, with a special focus on underserved tribal and remote areas.
“The people of Odisha, especially in rural and interior belts, must have timely access to medical care. Filling vacancies is the first step towards this goal,” Majhi said.
The meeting also brought attention to the shortage of teaching faculty in government medical colleges. Vacant posts of Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors are set to be filled on a priority basis. Chief Minister Majhi also stressed the need to increase postgraduate seats and upgrade infrastructure in medical colleges to improve the quality of education and training.
He urged the concerned departments to expedite the recruitment of technical and non-teaching staff to ensure smooth functioning of these institutions.
Another major initiative discussed was the establishment of Integrated Trauma Care Centres in accident-prone regions of the state. These centres will be equipped to provide critical emergency services, which are often unavailable in rural and highway-adjacent areas.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the need for better incentives for doctors working in difficult-to-access areas, ensuring that healthcare delivery does not remain concentrated in urban centres alone.
The challenges faced by AYUSH doctors were also taken up during the meeting, with assurances that their concerns will be addressed in the upcoming recruitment and policy reforms.
Meanwhile, the decision to induct over 5,000 paramedical staff, including nurses, lab technicians, and pharmacists, is expected to ease the burden on doctors and strengthen the state’s overall healthcare delivery network.
Chief Minister Majhi directed all departments concerned to take swift action on recruitment, salary revisions, and expansion of medical education. He emphasized that the entire process must be completed in a time-bound manner to meet the rising healthcare demands of the state.
The review meeting was attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Finance Department Principal Secretary Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Saswata Mishra, Health Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Aswathy S, National Health Mission Director Dr. Brundha D, and Managing Director of Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited Dr. Poma Tudu.
This large-scale recruitment drive is expected to significantly improve Odisha’s healthcare infrastructure. The government’s focus on tribal and rural regions aims to ensure that no area is left behind in accessing medical services. By filling vacant posts, expanding medical education, and setting up specialised trauma care centres, the state hopes to deliver more effective, accessible, and equitable healthcare to its citizens.
