Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 10: Axe will fall on 300 doctors (mainly specialists) of the State, who have remained absent from their duties for years together as Government has decided to serve them the termination orders from next week.
Confirming this to Excelsior, Minister of Health, Medical Education and ARI & Trainings Ch Lal Singh said that his Ministry has served the final notice to these doctors and if they fail to respond within week the Department will serve dismissal orders to them.
The Minister said that State is facing shortage of doctors and the condition in hospitals is worst. He said the district hospitals are being run without doctors especially in Kashmir valley where there is shortage of about 275 doctors. “I am astonished how the hospitals are being run in Kashmir valley where there is shortage of maximum doctors and this will not be allowed at any cost”, he added.
Lal Singh said this monopoly will not be tolerated and his Ministry has taken a strong exception to dereliction of duty and unauthorized absence by doctors who are serving in nursing homes and hospitals outside the State or in foreign countries.
“The condition is bad in hospitals and we have to put the system back on track, the Minster said, adding he has issued instructions to Administrative Department in this regard.
He said the termination orders will be issued from next week, after the assessment report of the Department which has sent final notices to these doctors.
The Minister said that in place of these doctors, the Government will make fresh appointments by referring the posts to Public Service Commission (PSC).
The Minister said in the last three years, the Health Department has served repeated notices to these doctors, who are absent from their duties. Though some of them have rejoined their services, most of the doctors are unwilling to come back”, he said and added that it is high time to take strict action against the doctors who are taking rules for granted”.
Their absence has affected the health care system in the State and Government will not spare them as it has spent a huge amount on their training. “If these doctors will not join their services, the Government can appoint the unemployed doctors at their places”, he added.
It may be recalled that most of the doctors from Valley are serving in gulf countries, sources said.
Lal Singh said that he has taken serious steps in putting the system in Health and Medical Education back on rails and the influential doctors who were adjusted in Medical Colleges of the State will also be posted in rural areas. In this connection already steps were taken by him, he added.
It may be recalled that over two years back the then Medical Education Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din had also decided to issue termination orders of about 300 doctors who remained absent from their duties for years together. Despite his announcement, no action was taken against these doctors later on by his Ministry.
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