1,000 nurses will be appointed permanently: Health Minister

“In line with the assurance given by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, 1,000 nurses would be appointed permanently through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) before the Pongal festival,” said Health Minister Ma. Subramanian here on Saturday.

Speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association (TNGDA), he stated that while 169 nurses had already received their permanent job orders, the remaining 831 orders would be issued before the festival.

Comparing previous recruitment figures, he noted, “Between 2014 and 2021, only 1,600 staff appointments were made. However, in the four years since 2021, a total of 5,700 permanent staff members have been appointed.”

Highlighting the government’s efforts in medical staffing, he stated that 36,232 doctors have been appointed, with 17,790 of those being newly created positions. Furthermore, he noted that 51,985 transfers were processed through transparent mechanisms.

The State has also revived the practice of recognising doctors for excellence in service—a practice discontinued by the previous administration—increasing the number of awardees from 10 to 25.

Commending the TNGDA on its 50th anniversary, Mr. Subramanian remarked, “An association serving as the voice of government doctors for 50 years is no small feat. It has reached this milestone by acting as a steadfast support system for the medical community.”

He specifically lauded TNGDA State president K. Senthil, noting that winning union elections for over a decade is an arduous task that requires immense trust.

He also praised the role of doctors as frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “While the world struggled to find effective treatments, our government doctors, often unmindful of their own lives, employed every possible means to save citizens from the virus,” he said.

P. Senthilkumar, Principal Secretary to the Government, Health and Family Welfare, credited the success of the ‘Tamil Nadu Health Model’ to the unwavering commitment of government doctors.

“Their dedication ensures that advanced medical treatment reaches the most marginalised sections of society,” he said.

He added that doctors act as vital policy partners whose evidence-based inputs and constructive criticism help refine government healthcare policies.

Dr. Senthil recalled the association’s history of advocacy, noting that former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi set a precedent for listening to and fulfilling the grievances of protesting doctors.

He highlighted the significance of Government Order 220 as a major achievement, which protects doctors from prosecution for criminal rashness or negligence in treatment modalities, ensuring they can perform their duties without undue fear of legal harassment.