Sri Vijaya Puram, April 28: Efforts to address gaps in specialist healthcare across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have gained momentum, with the Directorate of Health Services initiating recruitment and infrastructure upgrades to expand access to advanced medical care beyond the main referral hospital.
In a move aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, the Directorate invited applications to fill 32 specialist posts across multiple disciplines on a contractual basis for one year. A total of 120 eligible applications were received, out of which 85 candidates appeared for online interviews. Following the screening process, appointment offers were issued to 32 candidates.
Officials confirmed that 23 candidates have accepted the offers so far, with six specialists already joining duty. Some candidates have sought additional time to take up their assignments, indicating a phased onboarding process.
The recruitment drive targets critical medical specialisations, including Surgery, Medicine, Anaesthesia, Dermatology, Orthopaedics, Microbiology, Pathology, Gynaecology, and Paediatrics. These specialists are being deployed primarily at District Hospital, Garacharma, to enhance the availability of advanced medical services closer to the public.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to decentralise healthcare services and reduce the patient load at G.B. Pant Hospital in Sri Vijaya Puram, which currently serves as the primary referral centre for the Islands. By strengthening district-level facilities, authorities aim to minimise the need for patients to travel long distances for specialist consultations and treatment.
Alongside recruitment, the Directorate has initiated steps to upgrade key healthcare institutions, including District Hospital, Garacharma, Dr. R.P. Hospital in Mayabunder, and BJR Hospital in Car Nicobar. These upgrades are expected to improve service delivery and expand the capacity of these hospitals to handle specialised cases.
A significant addition to the healthcare infrastructure is the establishment of an Integrated Public Health Laboratory (IPHL) at District Hospital, Garacharma. The facility is designed to strengthen diagnostic capabilities and laboratory services, enabling faster and more accurate medical testing within the Islands.
Officials indicated that the combined approach of recruiting specialists and upgrading infrastructure is intended to improve overall healthcare access, particularly in remote and underserved areas. The focus remains on ensuring that residents receive timely and quality medical care without over-reliance on a single tertiary hospital.
The move also reflects ongoing efforts to build a more resilient and distributed healthcare system in the Islands, where geographical challenges often affect access to specialised services.
The Directorate of Health Services stated that it continues to work towards enhancing healthcare infrastructure and service quality, with a focus on meeting the medical needs of the population across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
