LUCKNOW, Aug. 3 -- Uttar Pradesh's flagship Kalyan Singh Super Specialty Cancer Institute (KSSSCI) is grappling with a severe shortage of specialist doctors. Most candidates selected for faculty posts declined to join, forcing the institute to plan contractual recruitment to keep cancer services running.

The institute's 2024 recruitment drive for 91 regular faculty posts drew only 37 candidates for interviews; just 15 joined after selection, leaving 12 super-specialty departments without faculty.

The vacant departments include radiodiagnosis, medical oncology, plastic surgery, nuclear medicine, medical physics, dentistry, biochemistry, hospital administration, palliative care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry and dermato...