In a major step to strengthen public healthcare in Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation has launched a large scale recruitment drive to hire 25 specialist doctors for Kamala Nehru Hospital. The move follows months of staff shortages that strained patient services and affected the hospital’s ability to serve low income communities that depend almost entirely on municipal healthcare.
The Pune Municipal Corporation is launching a major hiring drive to bring in 25 specialist doctors for Kamala Nehru Hospital. The civic body has decided to act quickly after months of staff shortages that have strained patient care and led to repeated concerns about the hospital’s capacity to serve low income communities.
Kamala Nehru Hospital treats a large number of patients who rely on affordable public healthcare. Officials say the shortage of specialists has made it difficult to maintain quality services. Speaking to TOI, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram described the decision as urgent. In his words, “It is our responsibility to ensure that every patient, especially the poor, receives quality and affordable healthcare. Strengthening Kamala Nehru Hospital is a priority for us.”
Earlier, few doctors applied because the pay scale was much lower. The shortage also created compliance issues for the medical college run by PMC, which depends on specialist staff for both academic teaching and clinical training requirements. The new recruitment aims to stabilise both the hospital and the attached teaching facilities.
To attract qualified specialists, PMC has increased the monthly salary to a range between one lakh fifty thousand and two lakh fifty thousand rupees. This is a significant jump from previous offers and is expected to draw more applicants.
Out of the 25 posts, 24 will be filled on a contract basis. Each contract will run for 44 days, followed by a compulsory one day break, and may be renewed for up to a year.
Out of the 25 posts, 24 will be filled on a contract basis with each contract running for 44 days followed by a compulsory one day break. These contracts may be renewed for up to a year, allowing the hospital to maintain specialist services while retaining administrative flexibility. Officials say this structure helps them complete the hiring process faster while giving the hospital the flexibility it needs.
The hiring drive will cover four essential departments:
General Medicine
Anesthesia
Gynecology
Pediatrics
Applications have already opened and walk in interviews will begin soon. The hospital will issue appointments based on immediate clinical needs.
Along with new staff, the civic body is also investing in infrastructure improvements at the hospital. After an initial allocation of thirteen crore rupees, PMC has sanctioned an additional forty two crore rupees for repairs and upgrades. This brings the total approved infrastructure investment to fifty five crore rupees. This includes modernizing patient areas, improving equipment and preparing the hospital to handle a higher number of complex cases.
Officials believe that with better facilities and more specialists, Kamala Nehru Hospital will be able to reduce the burden on other municipal hospitals and provide more reliable care to residents of central Pune.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)