Bihar: Absentee doctors yet to respond to notices

PATNA: Though two days have passed since the state health department issued show-cause notices to 362 absentee doctors, more than 85% of them have not come up with any explanation yet.
The doctors were showcaused for skipping duty in these challenging times when the government is on its toes to fight Covid-19. The doctors were also warned of action under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
Notices were issued to 31 doctors from Nawada, 27 from Jehanabad, 26 from East Champaran, 25 from Patna and 24 from Rohtas among others.
Principal secretary (health) Sanjay Kumar said the department has received reply from only around 15% absentee doctors. “We will take appropriate action so that the health workers refrain from skipping duty,” Kumar added.
Meanwhile, health minister Mangal Pandey said the state government has utmost respect for corona warriors. “We talked to the doctors and it was felt that there was a need to make them aware of the rules, hence we issued show-cause notices to them,” Pandey said.
Motihari CS gets notice: East Champaran DM Shirsat Kapil Ashok on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to civil surgeon (CS) Dr Rizawan Ahamad along with district programme officer of Motihari Sadar Hospital and its hospital manager, holding them responsible for negligence in allowing further spread of coronavirus. The action was initiated after four covid-19 suspects, who had come to give sample for test on April 30, were allowed to go home before the results came in. Later, all four were found to be positive.