CM Pushes Forward Health Workforce with 332 New Appointments

In a ceremony at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan of the chief minister’s camp office in Dehradun, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami handed over appointment letters to 332 freshly recruited personnel for Uttarakhand’s health sector. The cohort includes 271 candidates for the AYUSH division and 61 all‑opathic pharmacy officers under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme.

Dhami praised the inductees, urging them to approach their duties with dedication, empathy and a true sense of public service. He reminded them that an appointment letter is more than a document—it signals the start of a responsibility to uplift the wellbeing of citizens, especially those who depend on government health facilities.

How the New Cadre Strengthens Public Health

These AYUSH and ESI staff will be deployed on the frontlines of Uttarakhand’s healthcare network. In many isolated villages, patients travel long distances to reach the nearest government hospital, hoping for skilled and compassionate care. The chief minister emphasized that the attitude, responsiveness and efficiency of these workers are crucial for maintaining public confidence.

He encouraged the recruits to set a positive example wherever they are posted, noting that every patient arrives with hope and that timely, honest assistance can change a life.

Commitment to Transparent, Merit‑Based Hiring

Dhami highlighted recent measures to make recruitment processes transparent and merit‑driven, including crackdowns on cheating rings and the implementation of a new anti‑copying law. He pointed out that over the last five years more than 35,000 young Uttarakhandis have secured government jobs based on merit and hard work.

Uttarakhand’s Aspiration as an AYUSH and Wellness Hub

The state, long celebrated for yoga, Ayurveda and medicinal herbs, is now being positioned as a benchmark AYUSH destination and a global wellness centre. Plans involve extending AYUSH services to every district, modernising Panchakarma units and establishing Ayurveda Utkarsh Centres.

Digital health initiatives are also gaining momentum: the e‑Sanjeevani platform enables remote specialist consultations, while the Ayush Setu portal offers a range of online services. Additionally, several homestays have partnered with nearby Ayurvedic facilities, allowing tourists to combine yoga, Ayurveda and Panchakarma experiences during their stay.

ESI Healthcare Now Covers All 13 Districts

The ESI scheme, previously limited to six districts, now operates across all 13 districts of Uttarakhand. A 100‑bed ESI hospital in Rudrapur is already functional, a 300‑bed facility is under construction in Haridwar, and land has been earmarked in Kashipur for another hospital.

The recruitment drive for an additional 47 medical officers is in its final phase, reinforcing the government’s resolve to broaden and improve healthcare accessibility throughout the state.

Dignitaries Present at the Event

AYUSH and AYUSH Education Minister Madan Kaushik also lauded the new hires, stating that the appointments will bolster departmental performance and expand health services across the region. The ceremony was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, MLAs Umesh Sharma Kau and Savita Kapoor, Labour Secretary Sridhar Babu Addanki, AYUSH Secretary Ranjana Rajguru, Additional Secretary Vijay Kumar Jogdande, Akanksha Konde and other senior officials.