The West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB) has initiated a massive recruitment drive to fill over 8,000 positions in the state’s health department, in an announcement that comes nearly one year after a wave of junior doctor protests demanded the filling of vacancies.

The recruitment includes positions for doctors and nurses, as well as laboratory technicians, physiotherapists, Ayurvedic Medical Officers, Ayurvedic Drug Inspectors, and Deputy Superintendents for Hospitals.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) had prominently raised the issue of vacant positions during their widespread protests that followed the rape and murder of a colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protests, which highlighted demands for increased workplace safety and the appointment of more healthcare staff, put significant pressure on the state government.

The recruitment drive aims to fill 1,848 vacancies for doctors and 5,018 for nurses. Among the doctor positions, 1,227 are for General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs), while the remaining 621 are for specialist doctors and assistant professors. For specialist roles, candidates must hold an MD/MS or a super-specialization degree like DM or MCh. The highest number of new appointments among assistant professors will be in General Medicine (48), Anesthesiology (47), and General Surgery (43).

Interested candidates can find detailed information on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and important dates by visiting the official WBHRB website. The online application process for General Duty Medical Officers and Staff Nurses commenced on August 13 and will continue until September 3, sources said.