Margao, July 9: The United Goans Foundation (UGF) has urged the Goa Government and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to immediately complete the recruitment process for 14 categories of contractual posts under the National Health Mission (NHM), alleging that the selection process has been indefinitely postponed despite interviews and document verification having already been completed.

In a representation addressed to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, the Mission Director (NHM), the Health Secretary, and the Union Health Secretary, UGF President Dr. Aashish Kamat stated that the posts were sanctioned under the NHM Resource Allocation Plan (ROP) 2024–26 and were approved by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through the Supplementary Project Implementation Plan (PIP).

According to UGF, the Directorate of Health Services had advertised vacancies in 14 categories under the Non-Communicable Disease Cell (NCDC), including Community Nurses, Counsellors, Staff Nurses, Data Entry Operators, Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Multi-Rehabilitation Workers, Physicians and Psychiatrists. More than 80 candidates applied, while document verification and walk-in interviews were completed.

The organisation claimed that despite the recruitment process reaching an advanced stage, the Chief Medical Officer (NCDC), in response to an RTI query, informed that the recruitment had been “postponed till further notice,” without specifying any reason or timeline.

UGF alleged that the delay has adversely affected eligible candidates awaiting appointments, patients dependent on services under national health programmes, and the utilisation of Central funds already sanctioned under NHM. It said the vacancies were impacting mental health services, rehabilitation services at Community Health Centres, non-communicable disease management and the functioning of Health and Wellness Centres under Ayushman Bharat.

The Foundation has demanded that the Directorate of Health Services immediately resume and complete the recruitment process, fix a timeline of not more than 30 days for issuing merit lists and appointment orders, publish marks and merit lists to ensure transparency, and prevent arbitrary postponement of NHM recruitment processes in future.

UGF stated that its representation has been submitted purely in public interest with the objective of ensuring timely delivery of essential healthcare services to the people of Goa.