Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on July 25 ordered that all vacant posts in the Delhi government's hospitals be filled up on contractual basis by September 15 until the process for permanent hiring is completed, officials said.

Kejriwal took the decision during a review meeting on shortage of staff in the health department, which was also attended by Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain and other senior officials. "Chairing the meeting, the chief minister went through the list of vacancies in different hospitals and discussed it with the (health) minister and other officials," according to a statement issued by the government.

The vacant posts include those of pharmacists, nursing staff, radiographers, laboratory assistants, technicians, OT assistants, physiotherapists and sanitary inspectors, it said. "After reviewing the vacancies, the chief minister ordered that all the posts must be filled on contract basis till the permanent hiring process is completed through several government agencies," the statement said. He was of the view that patients cannot be made to suffer because of shortage of staff, officials said.

The major hospitals, under the Delhi government include the LNJP Hospital, GB Pant Hospital, DDU Hospital, Dr BSA Hospital, among other facilities. The chief minister has set a "deadline of September 15" for filling up all the vacancies on contractual basis, the statement said. "Health sector has been one of the top priorities of the government and the sector has got a major fillip since the present government came to power in 2015. However, the shortage of staff has been ailing the sector for long as hiring could not be done due to several reasons," the statement said.