Bihar Health Secretary warns doctors against negligence, duty violations

Patna: Government doctors, hospital administrators, and clerical staff in Bihar have been issued a stern warning against negligence and complacency, with Health Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh stating that non-performing personnel must either resign or face strict action.

Chairing an online review meeting with civil surgeons from across the state on Saturday, Singh emphasised that government service is not a formality and must be performed with accountability and dedication.

“The era of merely passing time in government service is over,” Singh said. “Non-performing personnel must either be proceeded against or asked to step aside, so that young doctors can be recruited.

Also Read:4 HP Govt doctors terminated for prolonged unauthorised absence

Singh also stressed the need for strict monitoring of data uploaded on ‘Bhavya’, the state’s healthcare monitoring portal. He warned that mismatched or incorrect reporting would attract strict action and instructed civil surgeons to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the data.

A major focus of the meeting was tackling alleged “tout” networks operating within health institutions. Complaints have been received about private ambulance drivers diverting patients from government hospitals to private nursing homes. Singh urged civil surgeons to devise and implement concrete plans to dismantle such networks, stressing that decisions should translate into action on the ground and not remain on paper.

The review also exposed serious shortcomings in the Health Management Information System (HMIS) and duty postings. Many districts had outdated or poorly updated duty rosters, and HMIS functionality was lacking in several blocks, a situation Singh described as “alarming.”

Singh expressed strong displeasure over the role of senior clerks, particularly those posted for years in civil surgeon offices. He said clerks were running the system according to their own whims in many places, harming the department’s image. Ordering an immediate transfer drive, he said clerks who had been stationed at the same place for long periods would be shifted, beginning with Patna civil surgeon’s office, where staff from other districts would be brought in. He also warned that repeated complaints of misbehaviour by clerks would not be tolerated, reports Hindustan Times.

Addressing incidents of viral images and videos of dead bodies from hospitals, Singh said such occurrences were damaging the department’s image. He directed hospitals to form media cells, assign clear accountability for media-related activities, and ensure dignified handling of bodies.

Also Read:32 Telangana Govt doctors served show cause notices for absenteeism