Odisha: Government issues notice to 120 absentee doctors

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government issued notice to 120 doctors for staying away from their place of duty for long duration without obtaining necessary permission.

The Health Department warned of disciplinary action if they do not join duty within 15 days from the date of publication of the notice.

The 120 doctors are 'unauthorisedly absent' since before 2014.

"Attempts have been made to ascertain their addresses to communicate with them, but their whereabouts could not be known as they have not given their addresses either to their immediate authorities or to the Director of Health Services or other official agencies," said the notification.

It warned of disciplinary action as deemed proper against the medical officers.

Notably, 408 doctors were removed from government service in November 2015 for unauthorised long absence. Consequently, 363 new doctors had to be posted in October this year.

Meanwhile, the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has started the recruitment process to fill an additional 808 doctors' posts, said the official.