Cracking whip on ‘missing’ docs

Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 17 

Cracking the whip on doctors absent from duty without furnishing the bond money, the Health Department has initiated proceedings against more than 60 “missing” doctors while dismissing 14 and charge-sheeting  12. It has instructed the Director Health Services to ascertain the whereabouts of 40 doctors who have ‘disappeared.’ 

The government has decided to withhold issuing degree to doctors completing postgraduation at the two government medical colleges at Shimla and Tanda for two years. “It is unfair on the part of the doctors to opt for super-specialty on the state quota and then not meet their commitment to serve in government hospitals,” said RD Dhiman, Additional Chief Secretary, Health. 

“We will soon be amending Medical Council Rules to rein in such doctors,” he said. While some have agreed to furnish the bond money, the department is likely to initiate legal proceedings against them. The government has ordered postings of 72 specialist doctors to fill vacancies.