New Delhi: Addressing a key concern over the recruitment process of junior and senior resident doctors, the Delhi State Health Department recently approved the formation of a centralized committee to look after the recruitment of doctors and directed hospitals not to engage in direct recruitment.  The committee will have four members including a resident doctor and will be led by the Dean of Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC). Due to the creation of the committee, hospitals will no longer have the authority to directly recruit junior and senior resident doctors.This decision comes after mounting pressure from medical professionals, who have alleged corruption and favouritism in the hiring process of state-run government hospitals. A delegation of doctors led by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) met with Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on August 23 raising the issue. Also read- 650 Assistant Professors, 1200 Nurses to be recruited at Govt Medical Colleges by KEATaking note of the concerns put forth by the doctors, the government issued two separate orders in this regard. The first order directs medical superintendents and directors to immediately halt ongoing recruitment efforts.“All Medical Superintendents/Directors…are hereby directed to stop engaging Senior Residents/Junior Residents at their own level since a Centralized Committee for Recruitment of JR-SR has already been created. Further, all such advertisements for the recruitment of JR-SR to be cancelled and if process has already been started and interviews have not been held, the same also to be cancelled with immediate effect,” reads the order. The second order mentioned the information about the committee creation which includes the number of members involved and the person that will lead the committee and its members. In response to the issuance of the two separate orders, Dr Manish Jangra, Chief Advisor, FAIMA told TNIE, “This is a significant step forward in improving doctors’ working environment and security across Delhi. With this move, the involvement of hospital MD/MS in the recruitment process will no longer be a factor, eliminating bias and favouritism.”Also Read: Row over Eligibility Criteria for Medical Officer Post: Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital cancels interviews