Govt to act tough against docs evading transfers

The Department of Health and Medical is bracing up for initiating action against government doctors who have not adhered to the transfer orders and have failed to reach their new places of posting by June 30.

On Monday, the department is likely to take stock of the situation and even take recourse to issuing suspension order to those who continue to avoid transfers.

In all 240 doctors were transferred to the health facilities located in far-flung areas.

A few doctors have also gone to the Nainital High Court seeking stay in the matter of transfers.

“It is in the interest of people residing in the far-flung areas that they be provided medical care by doctors, with this in mind we had transferred several of them to the health facilities located in the hilly areas, where there are non-existent doctors,” said Om Prakash, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Health.

Further, the department claims that for the first time transfers were carried to ensure all the District Hospitals were saturated with super specialists. “We want to reduce crowding at higher centres by ensuring the patients are not forced to come to here to seek treatment for fever and other minor ailments,” said Om Prakash.

The department is already plagued with the problem of acute shortage of doctors and had to ensure the limited supply was adequately distributed.