Rajasthan Health System Faces Issues with CMHO Appointments

Saralnama

Rajasthan's government hospitals face problems due to irregular appointments of Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs). Rules require CMHOs to be deputy directors or senior specialists with 12 years of experience. However, the last four state governments have appointed CMHOs based on political preferences, ignoring the selection process. This has led to legal disputes in five districts. The trend of appointing junior doctors as CMHOs began in 2011 under the Gehlot government and continued under subsequent administrations. Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimvsar claims appointments are made based on administrative skills and performance. To improve the system, the government should follow the proper selection process for CMHO appointments. (Updated 24 Oct 2025, 04:44 IST; source: link)

Key Points

• Rajasthan's government hospitals face problems due to irregular appointments of Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs)
• Rules require CMHOs to be deputy directors or senior specialists with 12 years of experience
• However, the last four state governments have appointed CMHOs based on political preferences, ignoring the selection process