Unauthorised absence: More than 250 govt doctors under UP Health Dept scanner

Lucknow: More than 250 doctors from Uttar Pradesh have now come under the radar of the State Health Department for not rejoining their duties after taking a sabbatical for finishing a specialisation course.

Already taking cognizance of the issue, the Health Department has prepared a list of such doctors and soon notices will be issued to them in this regard.

In case, those doctors fail to submit explanation for their unauthorised absence or resume their duties, they will face disciplinary action, sources informed HT.

Several doctors in the list have remained absent from their duties since 2016. While many doctors took permission of the authorities for pursuing further studies, they did not return back to their duties.

Government doctors who are working under the State Health Department are allowed to pursue higher studies. After qualifying National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, every year such doctors are selected who go for pursuing diploma or postgraduate degree courses at medical institutes.

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Therefore, these doctors take a sabbatical from work and they re-join their duties after completing their studies. It is mandatory for such doctors to report back to the place where they had worked last. 

On the basis of their additional diploma or degree, such doctors get shifted to other workplace where they can provide services as per their new skills.

However, the State Health Department of Uttar Pradesh has now prepared a list of more than 250 doctors who did not re-join their duties.

While commenting on the matter, a senior health official told Hindustan Times, “The list of doctors who did not join back duty has names since 2016. There are many doctors who took permission from the department and went to join courses. They completed the course but did not return to join duty.”