WBHRB Recruitment 2026 | West Bengal Health Recruitment Board Jobs
The West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB) is the dedicated state body responsible for recruiting clinical, para-clinical, and technical staff for the entire network of government hospitals, district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, rural hospitals, and block primary health centres across West Bengal. Constituted under the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Government of West Bengal, WBHRB applies a strictly merit-based selection process to fill vacancies for Staff Nurses, Medical Officers, Lab Technicians, Pharmacists, Radiographers, ANMs, and other health sector posts.
Government health jobs in West Bengal offer a combination of career stability, meaningful public service, and competitive pay under the 7th Pay Commission scales. Recruited staff serve the state’s population of over 90 million people across rural and urban health infrastructure. Postings cover district hospitals in Bankura, Purulia, Cooch Behar, North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, and every other district, as well as sub-divisional and rural facilities that are critical for primary healthcare delivery.
Whether you hold a GNM certificate, a B.Sc Nursing degree, an MBBS, or a DMLT diploma, this page covers all current WBHRB recruitment notifications, the selection process, eligibility criteria, and salary structure. Also explore our Health Jobs in West Bengal category page for NHM contract posts and other health department vacancies beyond WBHRB.
Active WBHRB Recruitments 2026
| Recruitment | Vacancies | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bengal Lab Assistant / Medical Laboratory 2026 | Various | Active | View Details → |
About West Bengal Health Recruitment Board
WBHRB was established to bring standardization to health sector recruitment in West Bengal, which historically suffered from fragmentation across different hospital management committees and district health bodies. Centralizing recruitment under WBHRB ensured that merit, not patronage, determined who joined the state’s healthcare workforce.
The board evaluates candidates through written examinations and, for some posts, practical or viva voce assessments. Recruitment is strictly based on merit lists published transparently on the official WBHRB website (wbhrb.in). Posts filled by WBHRB are permanent government posts with full 7th Pay Commission benefits — distinct from the contractual NHM posts which are handled separately through the National Health Mission state unit.
WBHRB’s mandate covers all levels of health facilities: from SSKM Hospital (the apex referral hospital in Kolkata), to district hospitals at Burdwan, Siliguri, and Malda, to the smallest rural hospital in Sundarbans or the hills. Staff recruited by WBHRB can be transferred across the state health department as per service rules, giving them exposure to a wide range of clinical environments over a career.
Key Posts and Post Categories
- Staff Nurse (GNM) — The most frequently recruited post under WBHRB. Requires a General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) diploma from a recognized nursing school plus West Bengal Nurses Registration Council (WBNRC) registration. Age: 18-40 years (General). Pay: Pay Level 6 (Rs. 35,400 basic). Deployed at ward level in all types of government hospitals, including OT, ICU, labour room, and general wards.
- Staff Nurse (B.Sc Nursing) — For candidates holding a four-year B.Sc Nursing degree from a recognized university with WBNRC registration. Placed at a slightly higher seniority compared to GNM nurses. Pay: Pay Level 7 (Rs. 44,900 basic). B.Sc Nursing candidates may be preferred for specialized units and ICU postings.
- Medical Officer (MBBS) — Recruited for Block Primary Health Centres (BPHC), Rural Hospitals, Sub-Divisional Hospitals, and District Hospitals. Requires an MBBS degree from a recognized medical college plus registration with West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC). Age: 18-45 years. Pay: Pay Level 10 (Rs. 56,100 basic) for entry-level Medical Officer. Eligible for NRS/SSKM-level specialist posts with PG qualification.
- Medical Laboratory Technician (MLST / Lab Assistant) — For diagnostic laboratories in government hospitals. Requires a DMLT (Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology) for Lab Assistant posts, and BMLT (Bachelor in MLT) for senior MLST posts. Age: 18-40 years. Pay: Pay Level 4 (Rs. 25,500 basic). Duties cover haematology, biochemistry, microbiology, and blood bank operations.
- Pharmacist Grade II — For outpatient and inpatient pharmacy counters in government hospitals. Requires D.Pharma (Diploma in Pharmacy) plus Pharmacy Council of India registration. Age: 18-40 years. Pay: Pay Level 5 (Rs. 29,200 basic). Responsible for dispensing medications, maintaining drug inventory, and ensuring cold-chain compliance for vaccines.
- Radiographer — For radiology departments in district and sub-divisional hospitals. Requires a DMRT (Diploma in Medical Radiography) or B.Sc Radiology from a recognized institution. Age: 18-40 years. Pay: Pay Level 5 (Rs. 29,200 basic). Operates X-ray, ECG, and ultrasound equipment in some postings.
- Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) — For primary health centres, sub-centres, and maternal and child health posts in rural West Bengal. Requires ANM certificate from a recognized nursing school plus registration. Age: 18-40 years. Pay: Pay Level 2 (Rs. 19,900 basic). Central to immunization drives, antenatal checkups, and rural health outreach.
Selection Process
- Online Application at wbhrb.in — Applications are submitted online within the notification window. Upload photograph, signature, and relevant degree/registration documents. Application fee: Rs. 200 for General/OBC; SC/ST/PWD of West Bengal exempted. Confirmation email and application number must be saved for future stages.
- Written Examination — For most posts, a written exam tests subject knowledge at the diploma/degree level relevant to the post. Staff Nurse exam covers anatomy, physiology, medical-surgical nursing, OBG nursing, community health, and pharmacology. MLST exam covers lab techniques, pathology, and microbiology. Medical Officer posts may have a direct selection process based on merit for some drives.
- Viva Voce / Practical (select posts) — For senior posts or specialized roles, WBHRB may conduct a viva voce or practical examination in addition to the written test. This is specified in the notification for each recruitment.
- Document Verification — Shortlisted candidates submit original documents: degree/diploma certificates, institutional registration (WBNRC / WBMC / Pharmacy Council), age proof (Madhyamik admit card), caste certificate (if applicable), and disability certificate (if applicable). Recruitment is cancelled if documents are not in order.
- Medical Fitness Examination — Standard government medical fitness test for the category of post applied. Vision, hearing, and general fitness standards are tested. Medical posts (Medical Officer) have higher fitness benchmarks.
- Final Merit List and Posting — A merit list based on written exam marks (and interview marks where applicable) is published. Candidates from the merit list are allocated to hospitals based on rank and district preference submitted at the time of application or during counselling. Posting orders are issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department.
Eligibility and Qualification
| Post | Minimum Qualification | Age Limit (General) |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Nurse (GNM) | GNM diploma plus WBNRC registration | 18-40 years |
| Staff Nurse (B.Sc Nursing) | B.Sc Nursing plus WBNRC registration | 18-40 years |
| Medical Officer | MBBS plus WBMC registration | 18-45 years |
| Lab Assistant / MLST | DMLT (Lab Assistant) or BMLT (MLST) | 18-40 years |
| Pharmacist Grade II | D.Pharma plus PCI registration | 18-40 years |
| Radiographer | DMRT or B.Sc Radiology | 18-40 years |
| ANM | ANM certificate plus registration | 18-40 years |
Age relaxation: OBC-A/OBC-B candidates of West Bengal get 3 years. SC/ST candidates of West Bengal get 5 years. PWD candidates get 10 years additional relaxation over the category limit. For Medical Officers, the upper age limit may be set higher (up to 45 years) as specified in individual notifications.
Salary Structure
| Post | Pay Level (7th CPC) | Basic Pay (Starting) | Approx. Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Nurse (GNM) | Level 6 | Rs. 35,400 | Rs. 44,000-58,000 |
| Staff Nurse (B.Sc Nursing) | Level 7 | Rs. 44,900 | Rs. 55,000-72,000 |
| Medical Officer (MBBS) | Level 10 | Rs. 56,100 | Rs. 70,000-90,000 |
| Lab Assistant (DMLT) | Level 4 | Rs. 25,500 | Rs. 33,000-45,000 |
| MLST (BMLT) | Level 5 | Rs. 29,200 | Rs. 38,000-52,000 |
| Pharmacist Grade II | Level 5 | Rs. 29,200 | Rs. 38,000-50,000 |
| Radiographer | Level 5 | Rs. 29,200 | Rs. 37,000-50,000 |
| ANM | Level 2 | Rs. 19,900 | Rs. 26,000-36,000 |
In addition to basic pay and DA, government health staff receive HRA (or subsidized hospital campus accommodation), Medical Allowance, and annual increment from July each year. Staff Nurses posted to ICU, CCU, or Operation Theatre units may receive additional risk allowances. Pension under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) applies to all recruits who joined after 2010.
Preparation Tips
- Staff Nurse aspirants: Revise GNM or B.Sc Nursing textbooks systematically. Focus on Medical-Surgical Nursing, Anatomy and Physiology, Community Health Nursing, and OBG Nursing as these typically carry the most weight in WBHRB Staff Nurse exams. Solve previous year WBHRB nursing papers.
- MLST/Lab Assistant aspirants: Cover clinical biochemistry, haematology, microbiology, and blood bank techniques thoroughly. Practical lab knowledge is frequently tested in a theory format through MCQs describing lab procedures and expected results.
- Medical Officers: Revise MBBS clinical subjects. Community medicine and preventive health topics are commonly tested, along with pharmacology and diagnosis-based clinical scenarios. Keep your WBMC registration active and renewed.
- Pharmacist aspirants: Focus on pharmacology, pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical chemistry, and drug store management. D.Pharma second year subjects are most relevant. Also know the essential drug list under WBHSCC procurement guidelines.
- Keep professional registration active: WBNRC, WBMC, and Pharmacy Council registrations must be current and valid at the time of document verification. Renewal lags are a common reason for candidature rejection at the final stage.
- Monitor wbhrb.in regularly: WBHRB notifications are not on a fixed annual schedule. Set a reminder to check the official website every 2-3 weeks, or bookmark this page for curated updates on all WBHRB notifications.
Important Dates and Notification Cycle
WBHRB notifications are released based on sanction of posts by the state Finance Department and Health Department. Large Staff Nurse recruitment drives have historically happened every 2-3 years, with thousands of vacancies notified at once to address the shortfall in nursing staff across rural and district hospitals. Medical Officer recruitment occurs more frequently, sometimes with rolling notifications for specific districts or facility types.
The application-to-appointment timeline for WBHRB is typically 8-12 months: 1 month for application, 2-3 months to exam, 2 months for results, 2 months for document verification and merit list, and 1-2 months for posting orders. Candidates should be prepared for the full timeline and not withdraw from other opportunities prematurely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary of a WBHRB Staff Nurse in 2026?
A Staff Nurse recruited by WBHRB with a GNM qualification is placed at Pay Level 6, with a starting basic pay of Rs. 35,400 per month under the 7th Pay Commission. With Dearness Allowance (approximately 50% of basic in 2026), HRA, and Medical Allowance, the effective monthly take-home is approximately Rs. 44,000-58,000. B.Sc Nursing-qualified Staff Nurses are placed at Pay Level 7 (starting basic Rs. 44,900) with a higher take-home of Rs. 55,000-72,000.
Is West Bengal domicile required for WBHRB posts?
Most WBHRB posts require candidates to be domiciled in West Bengal or to have completed their qualifying degree from a West Bengal institution. The specific domicile condition is mentioned in each notification. SC/ST reservation and age relaxation benefits are available only to candidates belonging to West Bengal’s state-list SC/ST communities. Check each notification’s eligibility clause carefully before applying.
Where are WBHRB-recruited staff posted?
WBHRB-recruited staff are deployed across the entire West Bengal government health infrastructure: SSKM Hospital (Kolkata), NRS Medical College, Bankura Sammilani Medical College, all district hospitals (Burdwan, Siliguri, Cooch Behar, Malda, Purba Medinipur, etc.), sub-divisional hospitals, rural hospitals, and block primary health centres. Posting is based on the candidate’s district preference submitted during application and merit rank. Transfers across districts are possible after completing a minimum service period in the initial posting.
Is WBHRB recruitment the same as NHM recruitment?
No. WBHRB recruits for permanent government posts with full 7th Pay Commission salaries, job security, and pension under NPS. NHM (National Health Mission) recruits contractual staff on fixed-term agreements with contractual pay, which is lower than regular government pay. NHM recruits are not entitled to the same benefits as WBHRB-recruited permanent employees. WBHRB posts are significantly more secure and better-paying than NHM contract posts.
Can male candidates apply for Staff Nurse posts through WBHRB?
Yes. Male candidates who hold a GNM or B.Sc Nursing qualification and have registered with the West Bengal Nurses Registration Council are eligible to apply for Staff Nurse posts notified by WBHRB. The nursing profession is open to all genders in India, and government hospital recruitment does not restrict nursing posts to female candidates unless specifically mentioned in the notification. Male nurses are actively deployed in male surgical wards, ICUs, and emergency departments.
What is the pension benefit for WBHRB-recruited staff?
All state government employees recruited after April 1, 2010, including WBHRB-recruited staff, are covered under the New Pension Scheme (NPS). Under NPS, the employee contributes 10% of basic pay plus DA each month and the government contributes a matching 14%. The accumulated corpus is invested in approved pension funds and provides a retirement annuity. This is different from the old defined-benefit pension but still provides meaningful retirement security.