Kathmandu, June 7 The Ministry of Health has formulated Procedures Relating to Appointment of Doctors or Health Workers of Nepal Health Service on Contract-2015. The procedures will come into force on a date as may be approved the government. The objective of the procedures is to make the process of appointing doctors or health workers on contract basis simple, transparent and systematic, especially when in-service employees are on sabbatical or extraordinary leave due to which delivery of health services may be affected. As per the procedures, the power to appoint doctors or health workers of the seventh and eighth level under Nepal Health Service, and fourth and fifth level of the central hospitals will rest with the ministry. Similarly, employees of the fourth and fifth level of the regional health directorate and other agencies under it will be appointed by the directorate. Any doctor or health worker, who wishes to be appointed under the procedures, should be a Nepali citizen having registered with Nepal Medical Council in the case of the post which is applicable to it. The age limit for the seventh or higher level is 21-45 years, while a candidate applying for the post of fourth and fifth level should have attained 18 years of age and must not have exceeded the age of 45 years. The central, regional, sub-regional, sub-regional hospital and the concerned offices will be required to inform the ministry in writing when any doctor or health worker is on sabbatical or extraordinary leave or the post is lying vacant for any reason whatsoever. “Doctors or health workers can be appointed on contract basis if the Public Service Commission has been urged to fulfil the vacancies but no vacancy announcement has been made,” read the procedures. The ministry or the directorate will appoint doctors or health workers from among the eligible candidates through interview. Before appointment, the ministry or the directorate is required to invite applications from among the qualified candidates by publishing a vacancy notice in any national newspaper, giving them 15 days to apply for the posts. The new law has also stipulated a provision for formulation of a four-member interview committee led by joint secretary of the Administration Division at the ministry. The tenure of the contract will be of one year and may be extended for another term.