Only 40 doctors respond to government's show-cause notices

Hyderabad: Following Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad's action serving notices to 134 specialist doctors for unauthorised absence from work for the last several months continuously, nearly 40 doctors sent their responses while three tendered resignation to the job.

The remaining 90-odd doctors chose not to respond to the notices of the government.

It may be mentioned here that notices were served, in first week of June, to absentee doctors belonging to different specialities including OBG (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), Paediatric, General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Pulmonology, Anaesthesia, Radiology, General Medicine etc.

They got postings in different Area and District Hospitals and CHCs (Community Health Centres) across the State.

According to senior officials, paper notification will be issued on Monday or Tuesday giving one more chance to those who did not respond until now to give their explanation and those ignoring government's communication again would be terminated from service.

Coming to doctors who responded to notices, majority doctors stated that the place of posting was not convenient for them on family grounds (parents health, wife's job in city, small children etc).

If we look at the unauthorised absence doctors list, nine doctors have skipped duties in Asifabad District Hospital (upgraded from CHC), eight in Sangareddy, three in Sirpur CHC, four in Utnoor, three in Sircilla District Hospital, six in Bodhan Area Hospital, another four in Zaheerabad, six in Tandur, three in Bhongir and another nine doctors have stopped reporting to work in Bhadrachalam Area Hospital.

Officials stated that those who responded to notices would be served memos seeking explanation why action cannot be taken against them.

"We also have to examine the explanation and reasons given for skipping duty. Those who give satisfactory responses would be given reposting orders, but at the same location," said an official.

Department officials stated that doctors would be given reposting orders in the same place where they were doing duty earlier.

However, they can opt transfer to move to other hospital in a different place, but after completing two years of service in the present posting.

Meanwhile, majority of the doctors who did not respond to government's show cause notices have no second thoughts of joining again. They settled for jobs in corporate and private hospitals and have no intention to come back to government service.

These doctors alleged that irregularities took place at the time of web counselling and postings were given selectively to candidates in the State capital, city peripheral areas and those who did not yield to them were given postings in far-off places.