The State Health Department has issued guidelines to end confusion on eligibility of maternity and miscarriage leave that resident doctors are entitled to.
Maternity benefits
The Department has noted that “no woman shall be entitled to maternity benefits unless she has actually worked in establishment of the employer from whom she claims maternity benefits for a period of not less than 160 days in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of expected delivery”.
“It has been decided that resident doctors are entitled for maternity leave of 26 weeks and miscarriage leave of six weeks subject to the condition that no leave shall be granted after completion/expiry of tenure of the doctor concerned.”
“The guideline has come following many files/ proposals being received in the Department from hospitals seeking clarifications regarding provisions of maternity leave/ miscarriage leave for resident doctors,” said a senior Health Department official.
All medical superintendents and heads of institutions have been asked to implement the guideline with immediate effect.
