KL Report
SRINAGAR
At least 300 doctors who have remained absent from duties for years are about to be terminated by the state government and a termination list has already been prepared.
Sources said most among these doctors are presently working in private health institutions in the country and abroad, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) Health and Medical Education Minister Lal Sigh said, “The termination orders will be notified from next week, after an assessment report of the Department which has sent final notices to the doctors.”
The government has also decided to refer these posts to the Public Service Commission.
“In the last three years, the Health Department has served repeated notices to 300 specialist doctors, who are absent from their duties. Though some of them have rejoined their services, but most of the doctors are not willing to come back,” he said and added that it is time to take strict action against doctors who are taking rules for granted.
“The brain drain is a matter of worry as the government has invested a lot of money in training these doctors and it has affected the health care system in the state. Termination is necessary as hundreds of doctors are unemployed and can be adjusted,” Lal Singh said.
Meanwhile, a doctor who works at Saudi Arabia, on the condition of anonymity said that government’s policies are responsible for the brain drain.
“A doctor who joins the Health Services department in the state gets around Rs 22,000 per month but he gets more than Rs 50,000 in a private hospital in other states. What will a person choose,” he asked.
Blaming the state government for faulty policies, the doctor claimd that the transfer of doctors from their native areas was also responsible for this practice. “It is not only the high salary and perks but also the professional and research atmosphere outside the state which encourage doctors to leave their home state,” he added.
