Faridabad Medical College suspends 3 doctors, nurse over alleged absence from duty

Faridabad: Three junior doctors and a staff nurse were suspended from duty at Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College and Hospital (SABVGMC) in Faridabad after they were allegedly found absent from the emergency ward during their scheduled duty hours earlier this month, raising concerns over patient safety and accountability in government healthcare facilities.

The suspension order, issued on July 10, followed a verbal complaint from a patient who visited the hospital on the night of July 3. Hospital authorities launched an inquiry into the matter, though the exact reason behind the staff members' absence has not yet been determined.

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Speaking to Hindustan Times, hospital director Devender Kumar Atal said, “This is serious negligence that compromises patient safety, which is why such strict action was taken against the concerned people.”

According to the director, CCTV footage revealed that the staff nurse had remained absent during her night shifts for three consecutive days. He added that she had previously been warned for similar misconduct but failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for her latest absence.

The three junior doctors have been suspended for seven days and may face termination, as they were serving on a contractual basis. The staff nurse, a permanent employee, will remain under departmental inquiry, and further disciplinary action will depend on the outcome of the investigation.

The incident comes amid a series of reported safety and staffing lapses at government healthcare facilities across southern Haryana, including Gurugram, Palwal, and Nuh, raising renewed concerns about accountability and the functioning of public hospitals in the region.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that, acting on repeated complaints of absenteeism, misbehaviour with patients, and failure to follow official instructions, the Uttar Pradesh government has taken strict disciplinary action by dismissing 17 medical officers from government hospitals after departmental reviews and multiple warnings failed to correct their lapses in duty.

Also Read:17 medical officers sacked over absenteeism, duty lapses