New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has just lately notified the most recent tips for appointing the Head of the Departments (HoDs) in three Central Government Hospitals and related medical schools.

Releasing an Office Memorandum (OM) on 28.03.2024, the Ministry notified in regards to the guidelines relating to the composition of the Standing Selection Committee, and the tenure of the stated Committee. Apart from this, the most recent tips additionally embody particulars in regards to the course of of choosing HoDs, eligibility standards for making use of to the posts of HoDs, {qualifications} and expertise required to be eligible to use, particulars of how one can apply, choice of a panel of candidates by the committee, particulars of the panel, eligibility for consideration by the choice committee and so forth. 

Further, these tips have additionally offered clarifications on a number of points together with most length as HoD in service, elimination from the place of the HoD, clarification on whether or not non-teaching/GDMOs might be appointed as HoD, guidelines for backlog of vacancies/routine vacancies and so forth.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that final yr, the Union Health Ministry had knowledgeable {that a} seven-member Standing Selection Committee would take choices to nominate HoDs in three Central Government Hospitals together with Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. RML Hospital, and LHMC Hospital.

Back then, the Ministry had knowledgeable that the choice committee would consist of three Deans/Principals and three Additional MSs, one every from these three hospitals and one consultant of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the committee would shortlist the candidates as per Model SOP.

Referring to its earlier announcement, the Ministry talked about in its current OM dated 28.03.2024, “Head of Department (HoD) in three Central Government Hospitals and associated Medical Colleges. In supersession of this Ministry’s OM of even number dated 10.01.2023 on the above mentioned subject, with the approval of competent authority, it has been decided that the appointments of Head of Department (HoD) in three Central Government Hospitals and associated Medical Colleges shall be governed by the following guidelines…”

Composition of Standing Selection Committee: 

As per the current OM launched by the Union Health Ministry, the Standing Selection Committee constituted by the Ministry will comprise the DGHS because the Chairman, Medical Superintendent (MS) of the Safdarjung Hospital (SJH) as a member, MS of Dr RML Hospital as a member, Director of MS of KHMC hospital as a member. The panel shall additionally embody a consultant from any MAMC/BSAMC/GB Pant Hospital as a member.

Tenure of the Standing Selection Committee: 

The Ministry has knowledgeable that the tenure of the Standing Selection Committee might be standing and approval for the exterior member could be taken from the Ministry every so often.

Application Procedure & Issuance of Notice for Selection of HoDs:

The Ministry tips specified that the data relating to vacancies must be submitted by MS/ Director no less than 03 (three) months upfront to the workplace of DGHS. The workplace of DGHS shall promote vacancies so arising properly upfront.

“It shall ensure wide publicity of the advertisement through MSs in all hospitals. Secretarial assistance in this process will be provided by Hospital-I Section of MoHFW,” the Ministry talked about within the tips.

The tips additional added that the discover for vacancies should be broadly publicized by DteGHS by posting it on the web sites together with the Ministry’s web site and sufficient variety of discover boards of all three CG Hospitals.

In the stated discover, functions might be invited from the and eligible candidates (CHS officers posted at any of the central establishments) for the vacancies. After receipt of functions, Standing Selection Committee, constituted for the aim, will perform the choice course of.

Eligibility Criteria: 

As per the rules, all of the CHS officers within the Pay Level-14 of the Pay Matrix are eligible for the publish of HoD. To keep away from any sort of anomaly, CHS officers within the Pay Level-13 of the Pay Matrix might not be thought of to change into HoD.

Qualification and Experience:

The eligibility criterion for making use of to the publish could be that the candidate needs to be a CHS officer having PG qualification within the speciality. In tremendous speciality, important qualification shall be MCH or DM in involved self-discipline, the Ministry clarified.

However, it additionally added that candidates with 3 years’ expertise (after PG) in that tremendous speciality could also be thought of in absence of DM/MCH candidate.

“If a seat is falling vacant in any of the three medical colleges within 6 months, a common/ clubbed interview may be carried out. However, result prepared will be kept confidential and will be declared approximately 15 days before the seat falls vacant. In such cases, candidate may declare his preference or order of preference where he/she would like to work,” talked about the rules.

How to Apply: 

The Ministry has knowledgeable that the appliance type might be crammed, after which scanned utility type might be submitted electronically by the candidates through e mail to membersecy-mohfw@gov.in after getting it verified from MS/ Director, with the remarks about his/ her vigilance clearance at hospital degree together with integrity certification.

Original utility type could also be deposited on the time of the interview by the candidate himself/ herself. The candidate might be knowledgeable about date, time and venue of interview by means of e mail by the workplace of the SSC (Standard Selection Committee), added the rules.

Recommendation of a Panel: 

The Ministry knowledgeable that the zone of consideration could be the highest 5 senior most candidates amongst all of the functions obtained. However, if none of them are discovered appropriate, the following three candidates could also be thought of. 

As per the rules, the choice committee would finalise a panel not lower than 3 candidates so as of desire within the prescribed format mentioning place within the Seniority record/ Batch yr, Rank, Date of Joining in service and Date of becoming a member of in current grade.

In case, a junior official is beneficial within the desire order by surpassing senior(s), a justification should be recorded by the Committee to this impact. The appointment order shall issued accordingly by the respective hospital administration/involved institute/ organisation.

Details of the Panel: 

The Guidelines make clear that after assessing the candidature of all of the candidates, the committee will put together a panel of minimal 03 (three) officers for every publish of HoD to keep away from any sort of inconvenience in future. The Committee will ahead its advice in a sealed cowl to the Director/ MS of the Hospital or Institute involved for additional applicable motion by following the stated norms. The Committee may also endorse a duplicate of the suggestions to the JS/AS of CHS within the MoHFW.

Eligibility for Consideration: 

The Health Ministry has specified within the tips that the choice committee will assess the APAR for final 5 years of the candidate. Integrity of the candidate needs to be past doubt and he/ she should be clear from vigilance angle.

Further, the candidate has to make a presentation, by together with his/ her achievements, previous expertise and his potential imaginative and prescient and objectives in the direction of betterment of providers of his division, earlier than the Committee. Thereafter, the Committee will interview the candidate on element topics.

In case after the interview and consideration of above standards, if there’s a tie between two candidates, seniority/ rank in CHS cadre might be thought of.

Backlog of Vacancies/Routine Vacancies: 

As per the foundations, initially, since, there’s a backlog of present vacancies, solely these can apply who’ve one yr of service on the date of commercial (means he/she needs to be lower than 61 years of age on the referred date).

In the following strategy of routine appointment of HoDs, solely these candidates can apply who’ve no less than one yr minimal residual service left on the date on which emptiness arises (means he/she needs to be lower than 61 years of age on the referred date).

Other Clarifications issued by the Ministry: 

Maximum length as HoD in service:

The tips specify that the choice of HoD shall be for one time period of 03 (three) years solely or until attaining 62 years of age, whichever is earlier. Maximum variety of phrases as HoD for any individual shall be 02 (two) phrases throughout complete service to supply alternative to different prepared officers to change into HoD of their service life.

For the Second time period as HoD, performing on reference by MS/ Director, the Standing Selection Committee can advocate the continuation of any incumbent HoD after the top of first time period based mostly on their willingess and by giving desire to them. Only for remaining seats of HoDs, the Committee will observe the set process as above.

Removal from the place of HoD:

Acting on reference by MS/ Director, the Standing Selection Committee can advocate the elimination of any HoD even earlier than the completion of a tenure of three years with causes to be recorded.

Whether non-teaching/ GDMOs might be appointed as HoD:

The Ministry has clarified within the tips that the Non-teaching specialists and GDMO Cadre officers are additionally eligible to change into HoD. Academic actions shall be carried out beneath the supervision of HoD, solely to keep away from any sort of communication hole.

The OM launched by the Ministry additionally features a proforma for evaluation of the suitability of candidates for the publish of HoD in central authorities hospitals and medical schools.

To view the Ministry OM, click on on the hyperlink beneath:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/hod-sop-dt-28032024-236092.pdf