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Doctor staffing agency or platform? What hospitals should compare
How hospitals in India can compare a doctor staffing agency with a staffing platform on speed, verification, cost and control, and when each makes sense.
By the MeddStaff TeamPublished 25 Sept 20262 min read
When a hospital is short of doctors, the usual options are a staffing agency, a list of contacts, or a staffing platform. They solve the same problem in different ways. Here is how to compare them, and when each one makes sense.
How a staffing agency works
An agency keeps its own pool of doctors. You tell the agency what you need, and it chooses and sends a doctor. Agencies are usually paid through a fee or a margin on top of the doctor's pay. Speed and quality depend on the agency's pool and how well it knows your hospital.
How a staffing platform like MeddStaff works
On MeddStaff you post the shift yourself, with the role, timing and pay. Verified doctors within 30 km see it and apply, and you choose the doctor you want. The rate is agreed up front and you pay the doctor directly. MeddStaff is currently free for hospitals.
What to compare
- Speed. How quickly will you have a confirmed doctor? On MeddStaff most shifts receive applicants within minutes, and an emergency shift alerts every available doctor nearby at once.
- Verification. Who checks registration and qualifications, and when? On MeddStaff every doctor's registration, qualifications and documents are reviewed before they can apply.
- Cost. Compare the full cost per shift, including any fee or margin, not just the rate.
- Control. Do you choose the doctor, or does someone choose for you? On a platform you see the applicants and decide.
- Attendance. How do you know the doctor arrived and when they left? On MeddStaff doctors check in and out with your hospital QR code, and every shift keeps a timesheet.
- Reliability. What happens after a late cancellation? MeddStaff tracks reliability to help you choose between applicants.
When an agency still makes sense
An agency can be the better fit for long-term placements, or for roles a platform does not cover. MeddStaff currently supports four roles: Anaesthetist, ICU Intensivist, RMO - Ward and RMO - Emergency. For those roles, posting a shift can be much faster than making calls.
See how hiring works on MeddStaff, or read how to fill urgent and night shifts.