E-Paper
Stop salaries of truant docs: HC
THE ALLAHABAD High Court has directed the State Government to take immediate steps to stop salaries of doctors who remain absent from government hospitals without proper explanation. The court made it clear that payment of salaries would be stopped till the doctors in question explained their absence to the satisfaction of the authorities concerned.
THE ALLAHABAD High Court has directed the State Government to take immediate steps to stop salaries of doctors who remain absent from government hospitals without proper explanation. The court made it clear that payment of salaries would be stopped till the doctors in question explained their absence to the satisfaction of the authorities concerned.
The court observed, “The State Medical Services appear to be the only service in the State of UP, where the members can draw salary without working. The absence of doctors from duties has become a chronic problem, which needs immediate resolution.”
To ensure the presence of doctors in government hospitals and primary and community health centres, the High Court directed that there should be a notice board in every hospital giving names, addresses and telephone numbers of doctors and paramedical staff and the medical services available, along with the stock of medicines.
“These notice boards shall be put at a prominent place at every hospital, CHCs/PHCs, as well as published in the newspapers periodically. The copy of the same shall also be supplied to the gram pradhan/block pramukhs concerned, where the PHCs/CHCs are situated and reports be submitted to the director general, Medical and Health Service, at Lucknow.”
Passing this order, Justice Sunil Ambwani said the court expected the State Government to come up with positive solutions at the next hearing to ensure attendance of doctors and para-medical staff to their duties.
The court said these orders were passed on the ground that the State Government, in spite of repeated reminders and directions, did not come up with any solution to take care of the absence of doctors from duties.
Emphasising on the right of the public to have good medical care, the court said, “The people of the State have the right to remind the public health care authorities to perform their duties. The general public is reminded of their right to take appropriate action and to complain to the authorities, in case any of these facilities or doctors are found missing.” The court directed the principal secretary, Medical and Health, to ensure that all CMOs submitted accurate and timely reports with regard to inspections. These reports should be examined by the director-general and immediate steps should be taken against those medical officers and para-medical staffs, who were absent from duties, the court said.
Regarding the condition of medical services in the State, the court said, “There are over 2,000 vacancies in the Provincial Medical Services. The performances of the CHCs and the PHCs, due to absence of doctors, medical equipment is hardly satisfactory. Instead of increasing medical care, the offices of the State Government are only observing formalities to show their concern.
