A total of 1,919 doctors who successfully passed both the written and oral tests of the 42nd (Special) BCS Health Recruitment test in 2021 have called for immediate action for their prompt appointment.
They demanded the “fair and prompt appointment” of all successful candidates at a press conference held at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club today (15 December).
The doctors said despite passing the exams they were denied cadre positions due to insufficient vacancies.
They said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has already decided in principle to appoint 2,000 doctors and thy urged the authorities concerned to prioritise them in the recruitment process.
Dr Fatema Akhter, one of the waiting candidates, said, “We passed both the written and oral exams, yet we remain deprived of our rightful appointments. We’ve submitted memorandums to the Ministry of Health and DGHS. We are ready to serve the people, and we demand our immediate appointment.”
Major (Retd) Dr Abdul Wahab Minar, a mental health specialist and convenor of the AB Party, voiced his support for the doctors at the event.
He criticised the delay in their appointment saying, “These doctors have proven their qualifications by clearing the BCS exam. The government’s failure to appoint them is a serious lapse.”
Dr Minar also raised concerns about the proliferation of substandard medical colleges established for political reasons.
He called for their closure saying that such institutions lack real patients and compromise the quality of medical education.
AB Party Joint Secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad urged the health ministry to expedite the recruitment process.
He said the doctors who passed the 42nd BCS should not be made victims of delays caused by subsequent BCS exams.
The government must ensure their appointment within two to three months to address the ongoing healthcare crisis, he added.
The press conference was attended by several other doctors including Dr Farzana Sathi and Dr Mohammad Rezwan Kabir, who reiterated their demand for justice and immediate appointment.
