Haryana government to dismiss 75 doctors for chronic absenteeism

CHANDIGARH: The heath department of Haryana has initiated the process to dismiss 76 doctors who have been identified as “chronic absentees”.

Some of these doctors have been absent since 2010, while others have either started their own practice or have settled abroad. They have even exhausted their loss-of-pay leaves.

The department, in notices issued to doctors in the first week of December, has asked them to clarify their position. They are supposed to submit the reply by January 10. Health minister Anil Vij told the TOI that they would serve three notices to the errant medicos. “The final notice will be served through newspaper advertisements. Some of the doctors have already responded and sent their resignations as well,” Vij said.

He added that as these doctors were counted in the current strength, they had not been able to fill their vacancies so far. “Hence, we resorted to doing this,” Vij said.

Officials in the health department said doctors were served the notice under Haryana Civil Medical (Group-A) Service Rules 2014. They were served notices as their services were found to be dissatisfactory due to chronic absenteeism. Apart from medical officers, those served notices include physicians, surgeons and gynaecologists.

According to the department, the state requires around 24,000. Of these, 4,000 are on government roll, and the rest are private practitioners or those on the rolls of private hospitals. The deputation of many doctors with Chandigarh administration has added to this shortage.

Recently, Haryana recruited 550 doctors. Now, the state government is banking on graduates of Haryana-domiciled students of medical colleges. “As soon as students graduate, we will offer them employment on priority. Keeping in view the intake of interns from medical colleges of Haryana, we hope to cover up their shortage in the time to come,’’ said Vij.