The territory's long serving and highly respected chief health officer, Paul Kelly, resigned in January this year.

The government has paid recruitment agency C-Suite Partners $60,500 to provide recruitment services to find Dr Kelly's replacement.

It will be a national search for a replacement for the prominent position, which is a statutory role holding responsibilities under various public health legislation.

The recruitment company describes itself as an "exclusive, executive resource company - dedicated to the broader healthcare sector".

According to the contract, the company will prepare and manage an advertising campaign for the position.

It will also research markets and try to poach potential candidates.

The company will create a short list of suitable candidates to consult with the ACT Health director general.

If requested, it will prepare an overarching final report which examines the whole selection process and the outcomes achieved.

Dr Kelly quit in January after accepting a new job with the federal health department as the chief medical adviser for Health Products Regulation Group.

The 18 months has seen upheaval among the top ranks of ACT Health's executive team, which began with director general Nicole Feely departing in March last year.

In September the CEO designate of Canberra Health Services Janet Anderson pulled out of the role just days after she was appointed.

Eventually, Victorian health bureaucrat Bernadette McDonald was announced as the interim chief executive and given the role permanently in December.

Chief medical officer Dr Jeffrey Fletcher resigned in October telling colleagues he was looking for jobs outside of Canberra.

The director of medical imaging at Canberra Hospital resigned in late December citing personal reasons, while chief operating officer Chris Bone quit in March.

An ACT Health Directorate spokeswoman said the recruitment contract was good value for money.

"The chief health officer position is a highly specialised and technical leadership role within the ACT public health system," she said.

"It is not uncommon for an organisation like ours to seek specialist recruitment services to assist with a national recruitment process.

"While recruitment is under way, acting arrangements are in place for the chief health officer position."

daniella.white@canberratimes.com.au