The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to allow eligible government doctors to continue working up to the age of 70 through reappointment after retirement, in a move aimed at addressing shortages of experienced medical professionals across the state.
Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak said the decision is intended to make better use of the clinical experience and expertise of senior doctors and strengthen healthcare services in government facilities.
Currently, government doctors in Uttar Pradesh generally retire at the age of 65. Under the proposed arrangement, eligible doctors could be reappointed after retirement and continue providing medical services until they turn 70, subject to the applicable government rules and reappointment process.
The move comes as government hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) continue to handle large patient volumes, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Specialist shortage among key concerns
The government is expected to benefit especially from retaining senior doctors in specialties where vacancies and shortages remain a challenge. Continued availability of experienced specialists could help improve access to consultations and treatment while reducing the workload on existing medical staff.
The policy could also have an impact on rural healthcare, where attracting and retaining experienced doctors can be difficult. Keeping senior medical professionals in service for an additional five years may help strengthen specialist care at government health facilities outside major cities.
Health Department directed to speed up process
Pathak has directed the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department to expedite the process of issuing the formal order for reappointment.
The Provincial Medical and Health Services cadre, which includes medical officers and specialist doctors, forms a key part of the state’s public healthcare system.
The proposed reappointment mechanism would therefore allow the government to retain experienced personnel beyond the existing retirement age while continuing to address staffing requirements across hospitals, CHCs and PHCs.
The formal order is expected to clarify the eligibility criteria, terms of reappointment and other conditions under which doctors can continue serving up to the age of 70.