Indian state to fill 1,850 key healthcare positions via exam

BENGALURU, INDIA — In a significant move to boost the healthcare and education sectors, Karnataka’s Medical Education Minister, Sharan Prakash Patil, announced the recruitment of 650 Assistant Professors and 1,200 nurses.
The vacancies, categorized under Group A, will be filled through a competitive examination conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), as detailed in a statement released last August 7.
Competitive exams to ensure transparency
Minister Patil emphasized the need for transparency and competition in the recruitment process, aiming to eliminate allegations of corruption and nepotism.
“Chairing a crucial meeting with the officials of the Department of Medical Education, Minister Patil, not satisfied with the current recruitment process, took a slew of measures aimed at regulating the recruitment process and filling the vacant posts,” the statement noted.
This initiative will impact 33 government institutions, including 22 medical colleges and 11 super-specialty hospitals across the state.
Streamlining the recruitment process
The minister’s directive to use KEA for recruitment marks a departure from the previous method, where individual institutions conducted their own hiring processes. This change is expected to standardize recruitment practices and ensure that only the most qualified candidates are selected.
To facilitate this transition, Patil instructed the Director of Medical Education, Sujatha Rathod, to form an expert committee. This committee will be responsible for developing the syllabus for the examinations that KEA will administer. The minister also highlighted the need to amend the department’s recruitment bylaws to authorize KEA’s official involvement.
Overcoming past challenges in nurse recruitment
The decision to recruit nurses through KEA was initially proposed a few years ago, but obstacles were faced due to the absence of proper Cadre and Recruitment (C&R) rules.
The KEA had previously expressed difficulties in proceeding without these guidelines. In response, Minister Patil directed the Department of Medical Education and the joint secretary to adhere to the C&R rules applicable to the recruitment of nurses under the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services.
This recruitment drive is expected to address critical staffing shortages in Karnataka’s healthcare and educational institutions, ultimately enhancing the quality of services provided to the public. By entrusting KEA with the recruitment process, the government aims to uphold integrity and efficiency in filling these essential positions.