Punjab Newsline | Shimla

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday announced that nurses in the state will no longer be recruited through outsourcing agencies.

Speaking on the fifth day of the Assembly’s Monsoon Session, CM Sukhu said staff nurses would now be appointed through examinations conducted by the State Selection Commission. He said personal interviews had been abolished to ensure greater transparency in the recruitment process, with merit being given priority.

Chief Minister also ruled out any possibility of recommendations influencing appointments, saying candidates who perform well in the written examination would be selected on merit.

The issue was raised during Question Hour by Karsog BJP MLA Deeparaj, who sought information about outsourced employees and the empanelment process.

Responding to the query, CM Sukhu said the system of empanelling outsourced employees had been in place for some time. He said companies are empanelled through a prescribed procedure, while advertisements are issued by the Electronics Corporation.

Sukhu said the government was committed to ensuring a transparent and merit-based recruitment process. He added that regular recruitment of nurses would help improve healthcare services in government hospitals.

Around 600 nurses are currently being recruited in Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister said future nurse appointments would be made through State Selection Commission examinations instead of outsourcing agencies.