Performance to Drive Opportunities, Quality to Shape Responsibilities!
Annual objective assessment of District Surgeons and District Health Officers in the Public Health Department
Performance over the past three years to determine grading; excellence to receive priority in future responsibilities and appointments
Mumbai, Dated 6th : In a significant decision aimed at fostering a performance-based administrative culture in the Public Health Department, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has decided to introduce an objective annual assessment of officers in the District Surgeon and District Health Officer cadres. Their performance over the previous three years will be assessed and graded. These grades will be used for the allocation of responsibilities, planning of work for the next three years, and future appointments.
The decision will give importance not only to seniority but also to actual performance, leadership, patient care, financial discipline, human resource management, and effective implementation of health schemes. Recognising the work of officers who perform well and providing opportunities based on their capabilities is expected to boost morale.
Three-year performance ‘report card’
The work of officers who have completed at least three years of service as of 31 March 2026 will be updated and assessed. Their work during 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 will be considered for an assessment of 100 marks. Officers will be classified into four grades—A, B, C and D. This process will be conducted annually.
11 parameters—from patient care to digital work
The assessment will cover various aspects that have a direct impact on the district health system, rather than focusing only on paperwork. Public orientation, grievance redressal, leadership qualities, special skills, training and communication skills will be considered. Financial management relating to district annual planning, state budget heads, the National Health Mission (NHM) and CSR funds will also be assessed. Action taken to improve the quality of health facilities through effective management of food, medicine supply, cleanliness and contractual manpower will form part of the assessment.
Human resource management in subordinate hospitals, primary health centres and sub-centres, as well as performance during natural disasters, epidemics and accidents, will also be given importance. Contributions to NHM programmes, special government campaigns, and initiatives such as ‘My Village, Healthy Village’, Arunoday—Sickle Cell-Free Maharashtra, the Palliative Care Campaign and Cancer-Free Maharashtra will also be considered.
Performance in digital and scheme-based work, including Ayushman Bharat cards, updating information on various health department portals, work on the Mahakarmi portal, and effective implementation of the integrated Ayushman Bharat and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, will also receive marks. Planning of work to be undertaken over the next three years will also be considered.
Integrity as important as quality
Clear criteria have also been laid down for nomination. The officer must belong to the District Surgeon or District Health Officer cadre and have completed at least three years of service. No disciplinary action should be pending or proposed, the officer should not be involved in cases of misappropriation, and there should be no serious complaints.
Excellent character and unquestionable integrity will also be important criteria. Thus, the assessment will consider not only performance figures but also the officer’s administrative reputation and honesty.
A clear message: ‘Opportunity for those who perform’
The decisions taken by officers leading the district-level public health machinery have a direct impact on the health services received by citizens. The central objective of this decision is to ensure that officers who perform well receive due recognition and opportunities according to their capabilities. The process is expected to encourage positive competition among officers, improve the quality of health institutions, and strengthen patient care, implementation of schemes and administrative efficiency. Greater importance to quality and transparency in appointments and allocation of responsibilities is expected to bring positive changes in the functioning of the Public Health Department.
Under the leadership of Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, the Public Health Department is focusing on administrative reforms centred on quality, transparency and accountability. As part of this approach, objective assessment of officers’ performance and allocation of responsibilities and opportunities accordingly will be important. The process will be supported by the administrative experience of Principal Secretary Dr. Nipun Vinayak and Health Services Commissioner Sanjay Katkar. The assessment of three years of performance, 100 marks and clear grading will enable a more systematic evaluation of officers’ efficiency.
‘Recognition for performance and opportunities for quality’ will give a new direction to the functioning of the Public Health Department. This performance-based administrative culture is expected to strengthen the efficiency of officers, improve the quality of health services and make people-oriented healthcare more effective.
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