Nearly 400 doctors selected through the Tamil Nadu Medical Recruitment Board (MRB) for Assistant Surgeon (General) posts in government hospitals are still awaiting appointment orders more than three weeks after attending counselling, leaving many uncertain about when they will be able to join service, as reported in The New Indian Express.
A total of 395 candidates attended counselling conducted by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPHPM) in Chennai on 4 June 2026 for postings in Primary Health Centres (PHCs). However, despite completing the counselling process, appointment orders have not yet been issued.
Several selected candidates expressed concern over the delay, stating that they had expected appointment orders to be issued within a few days of counselling.
One candidate said they had been informed that appointment orders would be released within a couple of days after the counselling process, but more than three weeks had passed without any official communication regarding their joining date.
Another candidate said the prolonged delay had disrupted the career plans of many selected doctors. The candidate explained that several aspirants had decided not to focus on preparing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG), scheduled to be held in August, as they had expected to enter government service immediately after counselling. The uncertainty over appointment orders had now left many in a difficult position, the candidate added.
The recruitment process began earlier this year when the Medical Recruitment Board conducted the Assistant Surgeon (General) examination on 25 January. More than 25,000 candidates appeared for the examination, and the results were announced on 20 February.
Following certificate verification, the MRB released a final selection list comprising 1,100 candidates on 11 March.
According to candidates, around 320 doctors who attended the first phase of counselling held in March subsequently received their appointment orders. However, while another batch of 395 candidates attended counselling on 4 June 2026, appointment orders for them are still pending. They also pointed out that several candidates included in the final selection list have not yet been called for counselling.
Responding to the concerns, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Dr A. Somasundaram said the appointment process was in its final stages and that appointment orders were expected to be issued from the weekend.
He explained that the department was currently assessing vacancies and rationalising posts across various directorates based on service requirements, adding that appointments would be issued against the finalised vacancies.
Health Inspectors Also Await Posting Orders
Meanwhile, Medical Recruitment Board-selected health inspectors also staged a demonstration on Wednesday at the Directorate of Medical Services (DMS) campus in Chennai, demanding that the government issue their posting orders without any further delay.
Mohammed Abuthurab, one of the selected candidates, said around 1,400 health inspectors had been selected through the recruitment process.
He said the recruitment examination was conducted in December last year and counselling was completed in January. According to him, the selected candidates were on the verge of receiving appointment orders before the government halted the process, citing an ongoing court case.
The protesting candidates later met Tamil Nadu Health Minister K. G. Arunraj, who spoke with them regarding their concerns. Following the interaction, the health inspectors dispersed.
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