The state government has restored the practice of recruiting house staff in medical colleges only based on performance in the written tests.

The practice of holding a combination of written tests and viva voce, which was being followed, was cancelled following allegations of manipulation.

Sources in the health department said many medical colleges allegedly manipulated the process of screening through the viva voce.

An order signed by the director of medical education, health and medical welfare department on September 3 said: “Notification issued by this department.... dated 24/04/24.... regarding recruitment of house staff locally are hereby cancelled till further order.”

The health and family welfare department on April 24 this year introduced the mechanism of recruiting the house staff through a combination of written tests and viva voce.

House staff are those who have passed their MBBS degrees and are yet to enrol for MD degrees. They receive a salary from the state government.

They are among junior doctors in medical college hospitals and assist senior faculty members in providing patient care in the hospital.

Each medical college holds a screening process to appoint house staff.

According to the screening mechanism that was introduced in April this year, house staff would be appointed based on their performance in the written test carrying 85 marks and viva voce carrying 15 marks.

Before this, house staff were recruited based on performance in written tests carrying 100 marks.

In the viva voce, the house staff aspirants had to demonstrate whether they could administer drips and saline to the patients, among other things.

“The viva voce allowed manipulation of the recruitment process. Those who were close to the authorities were given full or very good scores in the viva while others were given low marks. The competition is so fierce that shortage of even one mark can cost a deserving candidate being selected as a house staff,” said a source.