The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has removed 57 doctors, including 12 female doctors, for their continued absence from duty for the past several years. Furthermore, 13 expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) officials were suspended by the department on corruption charges.
According to a notification issued by the health department on August 20, around 57 doctors of BPS-17 from various public sector hospitals in K-P were removed with immediate effect. The notification, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, states the absent officials were served various show-cause notices at their homes and notices were also published in newspapers directing them to resume their duties within a stipulated period, however, the officials failed to do so.
The sacked doctors include two senior doctors from Hayatabad Medical Complex, seven from Khyber Teaching Hospital, six from Lady Reading Hospital, four from various public hospitals in Swat, four from the provincial health department, three from Post Graduate Medical Institute Peshawar, three from Swabi, three from Karak, three from Haripur, three from Abbottabad, four from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas including Orakzai Agency, North Waziristan and Mohmand Agency, while the others belong to various district hospitals from across the province.
A K-P health department official, requesting anonymity, said some of the doctors have been absent for the last 10 years. They are working abroad and continue to receive salaries from the health department as well, he added.
The official said various complaints are received on a daily basis by the health department against these doctors, but they have failed to take action against them.
Health Department Special Secretary Akbar Khan confirmed the issuance of the notification and said they discovered after an investigation that several of these doctors are not even working in the country. He added that they have had to hire temporary doctors on an emergency basis and will appoint experienced doctors soon.
Similarly, 13 EPI employees were suspended by the health department on Friday on charges of corruption and absenteeism.
EPI Assistant Director Dr Kalimullah Khan said the officials were suspended from the mother and child health care programme in Peshawar, Bannu, Tank and DI Khan. He added that a strict departmental inquiry had started against some other employees and action will be taken against them if they are also found to be involved in corruption.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2014.
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