Jharkhand: Medical Associations oppose Govt notification on doctor's sick leave

Dhanbad: A notice recently released by the Jharkhand Health Department has put doctors in a bind by making it mandatory for them to appear before the Medical Board for sick leave. They will be allowed sick leave only on the recommendation of the board. The notice mentions that disciplinary action would be initiated against the doctor if he/she ignores the department's directive.

The issue was taken seriously after it was found that doctors who have been deployed at hospitals/health centres go on leave without taking formal approval from their competent authority. As a result of the following action, patients, as well as medical students, have been affected greatly.

"This act of medical officers of teaching and non-teaching cadres is a violation of Section 152 of the Jharkhand Health Service Regulations. Such irresponsible conduct is not expected. So, the Personnel Administration department has resolved to take action against such officials," reads the notice.

Also read- Upset With Bond Service Rules, Rajasthan Resident Doctors Hold Black Ribbon Protest, Boycott Routine Services

To prevent doctors from taking leave more frequently, the health department has made it mandatory for the doctors to appear before the Medical Board for sick leave, and it will only be granted by the board. For this purpose, the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the health department, Arun Kumar Singh, has established a three-member Medical Board in all 24 districts consisting of a civil surgeon (CS), an Additional Chief Medical Officer (ACMO), and one expert doctor to examine the health of doctors and medical officers who will seek sick leave.

The rule also apprises to the teaching cadre and medical officer of the health department who have been directed to apply for sick leave from their competent authority otherwise, action will be taken by the government. Moreover, the notice mentions that disciplinary action would be initiated against the doctor if he/she ignores the directive of the department, reports Lagatar news.

"If any doctor/medical officer has already been on sick leave, he/she would have to appear before the board within a week of notification for extending the leave, which would be sanctioned only based on the Medical Board report," adding that the notice has been sent to all five medical colleges and civil surgeons (CS) of all 24 districts.

Opposing the move, the issue was brought to the attention of the Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA) and Indian Medical Association (IMA) to provide justice to doctors across the state. The doctors showed extreme disappointment and asked JHSA and IMA to take action against it. Therefore, taking action against the state government notice, JHSA has called for a meeting at Ranchi on Friday (October 14) to discuss the matter.

In fact, the doctors are upset with the direction of the health department as they think that it would disturb them mentally and physically. They asked that even after publishing the notice in May, what was the purpose of releasing the notice again and taking such strict action against them.

Questioning the rationale for such an extreme directive, a medical officer said "The notice is nothing but a way to mentally disturb the government doctors. When medical officers have been following all directives of the health department service regulation, what was the need for such decree."

For not taking any action after the publication of the notice, doctors also questioned the motive of JHSA and IMA. In response, JHSA president Dr PP Shah and secretary Dr Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh said "Massive resentment is prevailing among the doctors after this notification. JHSA does not want agitation but the health department will have to adopt a positive attitude towards doctors for smooth health services."

"What is needed of this notification when the government had issued a notification on July 15, 2022, that said medical officers would go on leave only after getting approval from the competent authority," asked the JHSA president and secretary.

Dr Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh said JHSA wants to know why such an order has been issued by the health department. "Why the personnel administrative department has not issued this notification for other departments of the state government while medical officers follow service guidelines properly", he said.

Also read- Shimla: Doctors Continue Pen Down Strike Even After Director Health's Recruitment