Absent from Duty: 56 doctors get show cause notice in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Taking action against absentee assistant professors and lecturers from various medical and pharmacy college hospitals, the Kerala health department has issued show-cause notices to 56 doctors for being on unauthorized absence for a period of 1- 7 years including one with the longest period of absence on the list- 15 years. 

The department directed all the 56 professors on the list to appear and report for duty before the Additional Chief Secretary (Health) at the secretariat within 15 days. Failure to comply will lead to termination without further notice as per relevant provisions of the Constitution of India, Kerala civil services rules and Kerala service rules.

A government order containing names, addresses and periods of absence of such professors of different government medical colleges was mentioned in the show-cause notice published through the website of the health department. 

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As per a TOI news report, the professors who have been served the notices had been abstaining from their duty for a period that ranges from 1 year to 7 years. Moreover, a doctor has also been found to be abstaining from duty since 2008. 

Among the assistant professors, 12 are from Kozhikode Medical College Hospital and 9 from Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. Meanwhile, a lecturer from the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College of the pharmacy department has been on unauthorized absence since July 1, 2008. 

Among the departments mentioned in the list, the highest number of absentee doctors was reported in General Medicine with 13, General Surgery with 6 absentee doctors, Cardiology with 5 absentee doctors, four each from Anesthesia and Radio Diagnosis, and three each from Microbiology and Pathology. 

The show-cause notice issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajan Khobragade mentioned, "Though all of them have already been given enough time to rejoin duty by the authorities, they defied the directions and continued on unauthorized absence."

"Since the health and medical education sector of the state stands as a model for the entire country, the unauthorized absence of these doctors is badly affecting the functioning of the medical colleges and also patient care," reads the notice.

"Hence, the state government feels that the action of these doctors is highly irregular and cannot be allowed. Therefore, 15 days' time is allowed for these doctors to rejoin duty into the government service from the date of the publication of this notice." 

Speaking about this matter to Onmanorama, Dr Rosenara Beegum T, president, Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) said, "About a decade ago, such a measure was taken. We have not received any complaints from our members so far regarding the action being taken against them for unauthorised absence. One issue is that, unlike other categories, doctors are not given sabbatical in directorate of medical education. Besides there are pay anomalies in entry cadre. There is a general sense of dissatisfaction which may be prompting this level of absence. That said we have severe staff shortage in many departments, PSC recruitment has been pending. Those who are generally interested in academic field carry on with the job irrespective of remuneration."

Dr Nirmal Bhaskar, a former office-bearer of KGMCTA, said, "The government should allow the provision for sabbatical so that the practice of illegal leave can be curbed. They can take a break on authorised leave for higher studies or any other purpose. Exposure to advanced practices in foreign countries can be utilized here once they join back for duty."

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