Telangana sacks 94 government doctors for absence
HYDERABAD: The health department has dismissed 94 doctors, including 88 assistant professors and six associate professors, for remaining unauthorisedly absent from duty for years.
Director of Medical Education Dr A Narendra Kumar issued orders removing them from service under the category of unauthorised absence. The action follows repeated show-cause notices that went largely unanswered.
Across the state, 115 faculty members working in various medical colleges and hospitals were found to be absent for over a year. After reviewing explanations submitted by some of them, a three-member committee recommended permanent removal of 94 doctors.
Absent since 2018
Some of those dismissed had not attended duties since 2018 and 2020. An anaesthesia doctor from Asifabad Medical College had been absent since June 2018, while a doctor at Niloufer Hospital had not reported to work since December 2020.
Under government service rules, employees can be removed if they remain unauthorisedly absent for more than a year. However, officials had not acted for several years. The posts remained blocked, preventing fresh recruitment.
Key departments hit
Several doctors from key departments were among those dismissed. At maternity hospitals in Petlaburj and Sultan Bazar, gynaecologists were among the absentees. At Niloufer Hospital, paediatric specialists were found missing from duty.
At Osmania and Gandhi hospitals, specialists in anaesthesia, general surgery, plastic surgery and cardiology were also absent for extended periods. In district hospitals, faculty from radiology and general medicine departments were among those not attending duties, affecting patient care.
Vacancies to aid recruitment
The government decided to remove non-performing staff and fill the vacant posts. Recruitment for over 690 assistant professor posts is already under way, and the newly vacated 94 posts may be included in the ongoing process.
