DHFWS Cooch Behar Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 06 Medical Officer, Specialists Posts

District Health & Family Welfare Samiti Cooch Behar Medical Recruitment 2026

The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), District Health & Family Welfare Samiti, Cooch Behar has released an urgent recruitment notification for 6 Medical Officer and Specialist positions under the National Health Mission (NHM). This recruitment is being conducted on a contractual basis to address the immediate shortage of medical professionals in the district's healthcare facilities and ensure uninterrupted medical services to the population of Cooch Behar, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Cooch Behar district, located in northern West Bengal bordering Bangladesh and Assam, serves a diverse population with unique healthcare challenges. The district's healthcare infrastructure includes district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, rural hospitals, primary health centers, and community health centers that require adequate medical staffing. This recruitment offers a valuable opportunity for MBBS doctors and medical specialists to serve in a vibrant district while gaining experience in public health delivery systems and earning competitive remuneration ranging from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 70,000 per month.

Detailed Position Breakdown and Specialization Requirements

The recruitment encompasses 6 critical positions distributed across general medical services and specialized care areas. Medical Officer (MBBS) positions are available for general duty doctors who will manage outpatient departments, emergency services, inpatient wards, and participate in various national health programs including maternal and child health, immunization drives, and disease control programs. These doctors will be posted at Community Health Centers (CHCs), Primary Health Centers (PHCs), or Rural Hospitals across Cooch Behar district.

Specialist Medical Officer positions include highly sought-after specializations in Pediatric Medicine and Gynecology & Obstetrics. Pediatricians will be responsible for managing child healthcare services, newborn care units, pediatric outpatient departments, immunization programs, and treatment of childhood diseases. They will also supervise Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers and participate in child survival programs. Gynecologists & Obstetricians will handle maternal health services, conduct deliveries, manage high-risk pregnancies, perform gynecological surgeries, operate labor rooms and maternity wards, and ensure implementation of safe motherhood initiatives.

The positions are crucial for strengthening the healthcare delivery system in Cooch Behar, particularly in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, improving institutional delivery percentages, and providing specialized healthcare services at the district and sub-district levels. Selected candidates will work in a multi-disciplinary team environment collaborating with nurses, paramedics, administrators, and community health workers to achieve public health goals.

Educational Qualifications and Professional Requirements

For Medical Officer (MBBS) positions, candidates must possess an MBBS degree from a medical college or institution recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI) or National Medical Commission (NMC). The degree must be from a recognized university, and candidates must have successfully completed the mandatory one-year compulsory rotating internship as per MCI norms. Registration with the West Bengal Medical Council is absolutely mandatory, and candidates holding provisional, temporary, or permanent registration are eligible to apply. The registration must be valid and current at the time of application and throughout the selection process.

For Specialist positions in Pediatrics, candidates must hold an MBBS degree along with a Post-Graduate degree (MD Pediatrics) or DNB (Diplomate of National Board) in Pediatric Medicine or Post-Graduate Diploma in Child Health (DCH) from an institution recognized by MCI/NMC. The post-graduate qualification must be completed from a recognized medical college or institution, and candidates must have valid registration with the West Bengal Medical Council. Clinical experience in pediatric departments, especially in managing sick newborns and critically ill children, is highly desirable.

For Gynecology & Obstetrics Specialist positions, candidates need MBBS degree plus Post-Graduate Degree (MD or MS in Obstetrics & Gynecology) or DNB (Obstetrics & Gynecology) or Diploma in Gynecology & Obstetrics (DGO) from MCI/NMC recognized institutions. Registration with West Bengal Medical Council is compulsory. Candidates should have practical experience in conducting normal and operative deliveries, managing obstetric emergencies, performing cesarean sections, and handling gynecological conditions. Experience in operating labor rooms and managing high-risk pregnancies will be an added advantage.

Age Limit and Eligibility Criteria

The age limit for Medical Officer and Specialist positions is quite liberal to attract experienced professionals. Candidates can be up to 65 years of age as on the date of application. There is typically a minimum age requirement of 21 years (assuming completion of MBBS degree). This upper age limit of 65 years is specifically designed to accommodate experienced doctors, retired medical professionals, and senior specialists who wish to contribute to public healthcare delivery.

The relaxed upper age limit reflects the government's pragmatic approach to address the shortage of medical professionals, particularly specialists, in rural and semi-urban areas. It allows doctors who have completed their career in private practice or other government services to continue serving society through contractual engagement under NHM. There may be further age relaxations for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/PwD) as per West Bengal government norms, though the base upper limit of 65 years is already quite accommodating.

Salary Structure and Contractual Terms

The remuneration package is attractive and competitive with market standards for contractual medical professionals. Medical Officers (MBBS) without post-graduate specialization receive a consolidated monthly remuneration of Rs. 60,000/-. This includes all components of salary, and there are no separate allowances like DA, HRA, or TA. The salary is paid on a consolidated basis considering the contractual nature of the engagement.

Specialist Medical Officers with post-graduate qualifications in Pediatric Medicine or Gynecology & Obstetrics receive a higher monthly remuneration of Rs. 70,000/- on a consolidated basis. This differential reflects the additional qualifications, specialized skills, and critical responsibilities that specialists undertake. The salary is subject to applicable Income Tax TDS deductions as per prevailing tax laws. Payment is made on a monthly basis, typically by the 7th of the following month, directly to the bank account of the contractual employee.

The initial contract period is usually for one year, with the possibility of extension based on performance appraisal, service requirements, and availability of funds under NHM. Contractual employees are not entitled to pension, provident fund, or other retirement benefits that regular government employees receive. However, the position offers valuable experience in public health, exposure to diverse medical conditions, and the satisfaction of serving underserved communities.

Application Process and Online Registration

The application process is conducted entirely online through the official West Bengal Health Recruitment Board portal at www.wbhealth.gov.in. The registration window opened on January 16, 2026, and will remain active until midnight of January 23, 2026. The short application window of one week underscores the urgent requirement for these medical positions, and candidates are advised to complete the application process promptly.

To apply, candidates must first visit the official website and navigate to the recruitment section where they will find the notification for "DHFWS Cooch Behar Medical Officer & Specialist Recruitment 2026." Clicking on the notification link will display detailed advertisement containing vacancy details, eligibility criteria, and application procedures. Candidates should read the entire notification carefully before proceeding with the application.

The online application involves registration with basic details (name, email, mobile number, date of birth), followed by filling a detailed application form with personal information, educational qualifications from 10th standard onwards, MBBS details including university, college, year of passing and percentage of marks, internship completion details, post-graduate qualification details for specialist positions, Medical Council registration number and validity, work experience details if any, category information (General/SC/ST/OBC/PwD), and contact information including current address.

After completing the form, candidates must upload scanned documents including recent passport-size photograph (colored, white background, JPEG format, 20-50 KB), signature on white paper with black ink (JPEG format, 10-30 KB), MBBS degree certificate (PDF, max 200 KB), MBBS mark sheets (PDF, max 200 KB), internship completion certificate (PDF, max 200 KB), post-graduate degree/diploma certificate for specialists (PDF, max 200 KB), West Bengal Medical Council registration certificate showing current validity (PDF, max 200 KB), caste certificate for reserved category candidates (PDF, max 200 KB), and experience certificates if claiming experience (PDF, max 200 KB each).

Application Fee and Payment Process

There is no application fee for this recruitment, making it accessible to all eligible candidates regardless of their category. Both General category and reserved category (SC/ST/OBC/PwD) candidates can apply without paying any fee. This fee exemption reflects the government's commitment to attracting medical professionals to serve in public healthcare without financial barriers. Candidates only need to complete the online registration and submit their applications electronically without any payment requirement.

Selection Process and Merit Determination

The selection process for Medical Officer and Specialist positions is primarily merit-based, considering various objective criteria. The selection committee evaluates candidates based on academic performance including marks obtained in MBBS degree (higher percentage given preference), marks in post-graduate degree/diploma for specialist positions, year of passing (recent graduates may get preference in case of tie), and quality of institution from which degrees were obtained.

Professional experience is another important criterion, with preference given to candidates who have worked in government health facilities, primary health centers, community health centers, or rural hospitals. Experience in NHM projects or other government health programs is valued. For specialist positions, specific clinical experience in the relevant specialty (pediatrics or obstetrics & gynecology) is assessed. The number of years of post-qualification experience may be considered for tie-breaking between equally qualified candidates.

A personal interview or counseling session may be conducted for shortlisted candidates. The interview panel typically includes the Chief Medical Officer of Health, senior specialists from the district hospital, representatives from the health department, and administrative officials. The interview assesses clinical knowledge in the relevant field, awareness of national health programs and government health initiatives, communication skills and ability to interact with patients, willingness to serve in rural and remote areas, and overall personality and professional demeanor.

The final merit list is prepared by combining academic marks, experience points, and interview performance (if conducted). Separate merit lists are prepared for general category and reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC) as per West Bengal government reservation norms. Selected candidates are informed via email and SMS, and their names are also published on the official website. They must report for document verification at the specified date and time.

Document Verification and Joining Formalities

Candidates whose names appear in the final selection list must attend document verification at the CMOH office, Cooch Behar, on the scheduled date. They must bring original certificates including MBBS degree certificate, all mark sheets from first year to final year MBBS, internship completion certificate, post-graduate degree/diploma certificate and mark sheets (for specialists), West Bengal Medical Council permanent/provisional/temporary registration certificate (current and valid), caste certificate original (for SC/ST/OBC candidates), PwD certificate (if applicable), identity proof (Aadhaar card/Voter ID/Passport), recent passport-size photographs (4-6 copies), and any experience certificates if mentioned in application.

After satisfactory verification of documents, candidates receive provisional appointment letters. They must join at the designated health facility within the stipulated timeframe, usually 7-15 days from the date of appointment letter. Failure to join within the specified period without valid reason may result in cancellation of appointment, and the next candidate in the merit list may be offered the position. Upon joining, candidates are required to undergo a brief orientation program covering NHM guidelines, service rules, reporting systems, and their specific duties and responsibilities in the assigned facility.