Sri Vijaya Puram, July 01: A delay in the renewal of contracts of 13 contractual doctors serving under the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Andaman & Nicobar Administration, has sparked concerns over the continuity of healthcare services in the Islands, with a social activist alleging that the doctors have continued to work for nearly four months without receiving salaries despite the expiry of their contracts.
The issue gained public attention after a video released by social activist Abhi Bhusan Ghosh circulated widely on social media. Ghosh has also submitted a formal representation dated June 30 to the Director of Health Services, urging immediate administrative intervention to renew the contracts, release pending salaries and ensure uninterrupted healthcare delivery.
According to the representation, the contracts of 13 doctors expired in February and March 2026, but no extension orders have been issued so far. Despite the lapse of their contractual tenure, the doctors have reportedly continued performing their duties without interruption throughout April, May and June.
The representation states that the affected doctors include six allopathic doctors, two BDS doctors and five homeopathy doctors. It further notes that all six allopathic doctors and one of the two BDS doctors belong to the tribal community.
Ghosh alleged that the Administration has neither renewed the contracts of the existing doctors nor completed the recruitment process for appointing fresh contractual doctors. He claimed that the delay has resulted in the doctors continuing to serve without receiving their salaries for several months.
According to the representation, many of the affected doctors are posted in remote, vulnerable and tribal areas where healthcare services are heavily dependent on contractual medical professionals. Several are reportedly functioning as Medical Officers In-Charge (MOICs), managing Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) and providing healthcare services to isolated populations.
The representation states that despite their continued service, no official communication regarding extension of their contracts has been issued by the Ministry, the Health Department, the Directorate of Health Services or the concerned administrative authorities. It further claims that the delay has caused financial hardship to the doctors and their families because their salaries remain pending.
Highlighting the public interest aspect of the issue, Ghosh stated that healthcare services in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands rely substantially on contractual doctors, with only a limited number of permanent doctors recruited through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) serving across the Islands. He warned that any prolonged delay in contract renewal or recruitment of replacement doctors could adversely affect healthcare delivery, particularly in remote and tribal regions.
In his representation, Ghosh described the continued utilisation of the doctors’ services without formal contract extensions as a matter of concern. He also stated that many of the doctors have served the Islands for several years, gained experience in addressing local healthcare challenges and maintained an excellent service record.
The representation urges the Directorate of Health Services to immediately issue extension orders for all 13 contractual doctors and release their pending salaries and arrears for the period during which they have continued to work. It also seeks the establishment of an administrative mechanism to ensure that future contract renewals are processed before expiry, thereby preventing salary disruptions.
Additionally, Ghosh has requested the Administration to examine the possibility of regularising long-serving contractual doctors in accordance with applicable government policies, service rules and legal provisions.
Describing healthcare as an essential public service, the representation states that timely administrative action is necessary not only for the welfare of the doctors but also to ensure uninterrupted medical services for patients across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, particularly in remote and tribal areas.
As of 30 June, neither the Directorate of Health Services nor the Andaman & Nicobar Administration had issued an official response to the allegations or the representation submitted by the social activist.
