In a bid to address the long-pending shortage of doctors in the Urban Health and Wellness Centres, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to recruit 60 doctors under the Chennai City Urban Health Mission. These centres, inaugurated two years ago by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin under the Union government’s Ayushman Bharat scheme, were intended to complement existing primary health centres by providing easily accessible healthcare services within local neighbourhoods.Each Urban Health and Wellness Centre is meant to be staffed by a doctor, nurse, and support staff. However, many of the 200 centres launched remain severely understaffed, especially in areas like Manali, Madhavaram, and KK Nagar. The lack of doctors has forced residents to travel to already overburdened primary health centres and peripheral hospitals.
Now, GCC officials say the doctor vacancies will be filled by April. MBBS-qualified doctors under the age of 40 will be hired on an 11-month contractual basis with a monthly salary of Rs 60,000. In addition, the civic body will recruit 60 nurses, multi-purpose health workers, and support staff to ensure smoother operations.
However, the stop-gap nature of the appointments has raised concerns among elected representatives. Councillors argue that permanent appointments are necessary to ensure sustained quality care.