Divya Ramamurthi

and Sahana Charan

BANGALORE: A few doctors and nurses in government hospitals in Bangalore have managed to retain their names on the rolls of the institutions though they have left for better prospects.

According to hospital reports, the names of six doctors at Victoria Hospital continue to be in the registers though they have not reported for duty for many months. "Two doctors left for the U.K. three years ago. But, according to the register, they are still with us," a senior doctor at Victoria Hospital said. One of the doctors has been promoted in his absence. "Many of the staff members go on prolonged leave and do not rejoin duty. The administration has turned a blind eye to it."

The problem has been reported at Vani Vilas Hospital too. A staff member has not reported for duty since 1997 and three others have not come to work since 2004. But they continue to retain their positions at the hospital.

At Haji Sir Ismail Sait Ghosha Hospital, a member of the staff has been on unauthorised absence for the past few months. At Kidwai Institute of Oncology, a few doctors last reported for duty a couple of months ago.

"Since the hospitals will not fill the positions vacated by the `missing' staff members, we are forced to do their work. It is often too much for us," said the senior doctor at Victoria Hospital.

Doctors in government hospitals said there was shortage of staff. Of the 5,069 sanctioned posts of doctors in government hospitals, 2,005 posts were specialist positions. As many as 252 such posts were vacant, doctors said.

The Government has not recruited staff for these hospitals since 1998. The 964-bed Victoria Hospital has only 70 doctors in permanent posts and 20 doctors on contract.

At Kidwai Institute of Oncology, 47 of 151 sanctioned posts are vacant. Sanjay Gandhi Accident Hospital has reported 56 vacancies.

Health Department officials said recruitments would be made only when the mismatch between what doctors were trained to do and what they were required to do was resolved.

"We think there are enough doctors to fill all vacancies," they said.

V.S. Acharya, Minister for Medical Education, said the department was taking action against doctors for unauthorised absence. "We have removed three persons from their jobs because they have not come to work for many years," he said.

The Minister said removal of the doctors and nurses who were on prolonged leave involved a difficult procedure.

"If the staff member is a Grade I officer, the decision has to be taken by the Cabinet. But there is no point in a doctor's name being on the rolls if he/she never comes to the hospital. It confuses people and does not present a true picture of the strength of the hospital," Dr. Acharya said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail