The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved raising the retirement age of central government doctors from 62 years to 65 years, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
The retirement age of non-teaching and public health specialists of the Central Government Health Services was also raised to 65 years.
The government claimed there will be no financial implications of the increase in retirement age. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made the announcement at a rally in Uttar Pradesh last month.
The decision will help in better patient care, proper academic activities in government medical colleges, and effective implementation of the National Health Programmes for delivery of healthcare services. The proposal will be applicable with effect from 31 May, 2016.
The retirement age of all four sub-cadres of Central Health Services was 60 years before 2006. In 2006, the age of retirement for three specialists sub-cadres (teaching, non-teaching and public health), except general duty medical officer sub-cadre, was raised from 60 to 62 years.
The retirement age of teaching sub-cadre was further increased to 65 years in 2008 in view of a huge shortfall of teaching specialists. The approval was limited to teaching specialists engaged in teaching activities only – and not occupying administrative positions.
(With PTI inputs)
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