KP Moves to Tackle Doctor Shortage in Four Districts with New Hiring Drive

In a bid to address a long-standing shortage of medical professionals, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is launching a recruitment campaign for medical officers in four underserved districts: Mardan, Upper Dir, Batkhela, and Haripur.

The move comes as part of a broader push to bolster healthcare delivery at the district level, particularly in hospitals that have struggled with staff shortages for years. The newly hired doctors will be appointed on fixed salaries, with their roles tied to specific hospitals to discourage frequent transfers.

Hiring Under Scrutiny to Ensure Fairness

To avoid any controversy in the hiring process, the Health Department has set up a district-level grievance redressal committee. Chaired by the Special Secretary of Health and supported by top officials, the committee will handle complaints from applicants about recruitment irregularities. Candidates must file written complaints, along with evidence, by August 10. Submissions past the deadline won’t be considered.

Officials say the committee is meant to reinforce transparency and rebuild trust in the system—a response to past criticism over how such appointments have been handled.

Local Doctors to Be Prioritized

One key element of the policy is a focus on hiring local candidates to fill district-specific positions. The aim is to ensure that rural and remote hospitals are staffed by people from the community, reducing doctor turnover and improving continuity of care.

The initiative is also expected to provide much-needed employment for young doctors in the province.

Wider Effort to Strengthen Healthcare

This isn’t the only step the KP government has taken recently. Earlier this year, 115 medical officers and 51 consultants were deployed to district headquarters hospitals (DHQs) to activate specialized units and improve patient services.

On the administrative side, the province is also fast-tracking the hiring of 600 specialist doctors through the Public Service Commission. Additionally, it has begun filling 248 long-vacant health management posts—an issue that had been neglected for years.

Age Relaxation to Open Doors for More Candidates

Responding to requests from the Provincial Doctors Association, the government approved a five-year age relaxation for applicants, raising the upper age limit from 32 to 37. This change is expected to allow more eligible doctors—especially those who previously aged out of the process—to apply.

The association has welcomed the steps taken so far but urged the government to maintain momentum and ensure that all positions are filled without unnecessary delays.