"We do not have any provision of black-listing such doctors otherwise we would have done that as well. However, we will still make sure that they are not able to join any government services in future, stated Dr Singh, Principal, Rajindra Hospital.

Chandigarh: In a stringent view, five specialist doctors have been relieved by the Punjab Government for being absent from duty since their appointment at the super-speciality centre of Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala 2 years ago.

In October 2018, the medical practitioners were selected by the state government to run various super-speciality departments including cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and neurology at the hospital. The doctors were reportedly handed over the appointment letter as well. However, the doctors failed to join duty.

As per Dr Harjinder Singh, Principal, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, the specialists kept on making excuses and false promises to postpone their joining. Moreover, the doctors remained absent from duty despite seeking a couple of month's extension to join duty.

This caused the government to hold back five out of eight super-specialist departments from being operational. The state government has till date been able to commence just the urology, neurosurgery and cardiothoracic departments of the newly inaugurated centre.

Therefore, the government has now taken strict action against these erring doctors because of whom the development of the medical facility got delayed. As per a recent HT report, the government has now discontinued the services of the five super-specialist doctors.

Also Read: Doctor Absenteeism: Soon, Biometric attendance at state-run PHCs, CHCs

Commenting on the concern, Dr Harjinder Singh, Principal, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital told HT , "These doctors have wasted the government's time and caused a delay in starting five major departments at the super-speciality centre. We do not have any provision of black-listing such doctors otherwise we would have done that as well. However, we will still make sure that they are not able to join any government services in future."

Sources added that these doctors choose private hospitals over the government hospitals as the pay scale is higher as compared to government hospitals. Moreover, lack of infrastructure and supporting staff, delay in promotions have caused a disinterest among them in joining the government sector.