Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 22

The shifting of a specialist doctor to an office job has raised eyebrows. Health experts have said the Health Department is setting a wrong precedent by putting a specialist doctor on an office job.

A paediatrician of the Community Health Centre, Model Town, is said to have been working as an ‘adviser’ to the Patiala Civil Surgeon (CS). The Civil Surgeon, Dr Prince Sodhi, admitted that he himself had appointed the specialist doctor to the office job in view of the potential third wave of Covid that could be detrimental to children.

The health experts said the department was setting a wrong precedent by pulling out a clinical doctor from the field, thereby undermining the treatment of patients. It was learnt that many senior doctors were also miffed at the appointment of a specialist doctor in the office.

A senior official, pleading anonymity, said: “All verbal orders by the Civil Surgeon are passed through the said special doctor. He is working as his personal assistant. He is drawing a salary of over a lakh for looking after patients and not for this type of work.”

Dr Thakurveer, paediatrician, said: “As an expert, I am helping the Civil Surgeon in view of the possible third wave. Moreover, I am working as an expert of the paediatric task force, set up for the third wave.”

Dr Sodhi said: “I have appointed him to help me in taking decisions in view of the suspected third wave. There is nothing wrong with it. In the past too, many civil surgeons had made such appointments.”

Alok Shekhar, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, said: “I am not aware of the issue. However, I will look into the matter.”