Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has started a new recruitment process to address the shortage of doctors across the province.
In the first phase, 166 health workers will be Hiring Doctors on contract – including 115 medical officers and 51 specialist consultants – who will work at District Headquarters Hospitals (DHQs) to strengthen services.
The goal of this recruitment drive is to improve access to public healthcare, especially in rural and underprivileged areas. A key feature of this plan is prioritizing local candidates for hospitals in their own areas, so doctors understand local conditions and can provide better treatment.
To ensure stability in local health services and build good relationships with patients and communities, doctors won’t be transferred to other locations.
The Health Advisor has approved this initiative, clarifying that it will not only create jobs for healthcare professionals but also improve the functioning of hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In addition to these contract-based recruitments, the government is also speeding up the hiring of 600 specialist doctors through the Public Service Commission. To make these positions more accessible, the age limit has been relaxed by five years so more experienced professionals can apply.
The Advisor has also directed that doctors’ promotions be accelerated and long-standing seniority issues be resolved to boost medical staff morale and motivation.
Furthermore, efforts are being made to compile province-wide data from specialists, which will help facilitate proper placements and better service delivery in the future.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government hopes to improve overall healthcare service standards and ensure medical doctors are being used effectively to meet population needs.
