K-P to crack down on absentee medical staff
In response to growing concerns over persistent absenteeism and irregular attendance among medical staff, the government has taken serious notice and announced salary deductions for employees who arrive late or leave early at hospitals and healthcare centers across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
According to official sources, all four Regional Health Directors - including those from the Central, Northern Hazara, and Southern Hazara regions - have been formally directed to review biometric attendance data from the past ten days.
After conducting thorough reviews and taking necessary actions, they are required to submit detailed reports to the Health Department.
The directive highlights that a lack of punctuality has become routine among healthcare personnel, with repeated instances of late arrivals and early departures disrupting service delivery.
The memo emphasizes that such behavior undermines the quality of public healthcare and warrants immediate correction.
To address the issue, the government has outlined a series of penalties.
A full day's salary will be deducted if an employee's total attendance falls short of the required hours on multiple occasions.
Additionally, two instances of late arrival or early departure will be treated as the equivalent of one casual or earned leave.
Authorities further clarified that casual leave is a facility granted by the institution, not a guaranteed entitlement for employees.
In cases where no leave balance exists, the absence will be recorded as leave without pay.
If the behavior persists despite salary deductions, disciplinary action will follow, which may include withholding of annual increments and other administrative penalties.
District Health Officers and Medical Superintendents have been instructed to ensure strict enforcement of biometric attendance systems at their respective facilities.
They must review ten days' worth of attendance data and report outcomes to the Health Department for further action.
This move is part of the government's broader initiative to improve accountability and ensure consistent healthcare services in public sector medical institutions.
It may be recalled that K-P government has decided to finally fill 248 long-vacant management cadre posts in the Health Department.
The process of recruitment of 600 specialist doctors through the Public Service Commission will also be expedited.
The Provincial Doctors Association has welcomed the government's decision, noting that these seats had remained vacant for several years while the Health Department failed to take action.
Responding to a request from the association, the Health Advisor has assured that the age limit mentioned in the advertisement, previously set at 32 years, will be relaxed.
The advisor further confirmed that a five-year age relaxation will be granted, and necessary amendments to the rules will be made to facilitate this change.
As a result, all doctors currently over the age of 32 will also be eligible to apply for the positions.
The advisor has also issued orders to expedite the process of recruiting 600 specialist doctors through the Public Service Commission as soon as possible.
Orders have also been issued to the concerned Deputy Secretary Health and the concerned Section Officer to send these seats to the Public Service Commission as soon as possible.