Patiala, April 30 -- Moving beyond district and sub-divisional hospitals, the Punjab government will now hire private specialists for Community Health Centres as well to tackle the persistent shortage of doctors.

According to an official directive issued on Monday, the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare has authorised civil surgeons to conduct walk-in interviews to engage specialists on a per-patient and per-procedure fee basis.

A district hospital offers the most comprehensive secondary care services, acting as the apex facility for the district. It is followed by sub-divisional hospitals (sub-district level) and then Community Health Centres, which are typically block-level, first-referral units.

"The empanelment process has be...