Ghost employees: Health dept sacks 56 doctors over absenteeism

Field staff to get smart phones to help monitor immunisation

PESHAWAR: The government has removed 56 doctors and initiated disciplinary action against 568 employees for their continued absence from duty for the past several years. Furthermore, 18 technicians and 17 lady health workers were also terminated by the department over negligence.

According to a handout issued on Sunday, a meeting was held at the Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU) office to review the performance of the health department and to take action against ghost employees. The meeting was chaired by Senior Minister for Health Shahram Tarakai and attended by Secretary Health Dr Yousuf Jamal, Health Services Director General Dr Pervez Kamal, and other officials.

Participants were informed that explanation letters have been served to 110 officials while deductions have been made from their salaries on charges of absenteeism and for showing negligence towards duties.

During the meeting, it was decided the IMU will introduce android-based mobile tracking system for effective monitoring of field staff. At least 2,000 smart phones will be provided to the workers to improve routine immunisation.

Reviewing IMU’s performance, the meeting was further informed that IMU staff conducted 14,000 visits of various hospitals in 25 districts of the province. It was said that this resulted in significant improvement in the attendance of staff, state of medical equipment and delivery of health services.

The participants of the meeting were told that owing to rigorous monitoring and reporting of IMU teams, vacancies of medical technicians and LHVs in primary health care facilities had been filled while there had been a remarkable reduction in absenteeism of staff.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th,  2015.