The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a crackdown on negligent Health Department employees. As part of this campaign, action has been taken against approximately 15 doctors across various districts in the state. These doctors were found absent from duty and have been suspended initially.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has now issued directives for their dismissal, instructing the principal secretary (medical, health & family welfare) to proceed with their termination after issuing them show-cause notices.

The doctors facing dismissal include, Dr Vijay Kumar Chaudhary posted as medical officer in Gorakhpur district hospital; Dr Pankaj Awasti, medical officer in office of chief medical officer in Sitapur; Dr Mohammad Shabab Khan posted as medical officer in office of chief medical officer in Moradabad, Uma Shankar Dixit in Male Hospital. Moradabad; Dr Ajay Pratap Singh posted as medical officer in Unnao; Dr Pawan Pratap Singh posted in community health centre, Udi, Etawah; Dr Ajit Kumar Chaudhary, posted in CHC, Balua, Kushinagar; Dr Rajveer Singh posted in CHC, Budaun; Dr Bharat Kumar Singh, posted in CHC,  Parsendi, Sitapur; Dr Ritika Sachan, District Women’s Hospital, Unnao and Dr  Radheshyam Saini, CHC, Rampur Maniharan, Saharanpur

Dr Arshad Jamal, posted in CHC, Adda Bazar, Maharajganj, had already been suspended as he too was missing from duty for a long time. The regional additional director of the Medical & Health Department, Gorakhpur, has reported these cases, leading to directives for their dismissal.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak emphasised the government’s goal of providing high-quality healthcare services to the public and stated that strict action against those negligent in their duties will continue.

Pathak also revealed that 10 doctors have been issued show-cause notices for dereliction of duty and directions have been given to dismiss them after seeking a reply. These doctors are Dr Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Dr Pawan Awasthi, Dr Mohammad Shabab Khan, Dr Uma Shankar Dixit, Dr Pawan Pratap Singh, Dr Ajit Kumar Chaudhary,  Dr. Rajveer Singh,  Dr Bharat Kumar Singh, Dr Ritika Sachan and Dr Radheshyam Saini.

Pathak also addressed the issue of Dr Rekha Sinha, a surgeon at CHC, Uska Bazar, Siddharthnagar, who has reportedly not performed any surgery for the past four to five years despite being a qualified surgeon. A show-cause notice has been issued to Dr Sinha and disciplinary action is being pursued. The regional additional director was entrusted as the investigating officer in the said matter.

Furthermore, Chief Medical Superintendent Dr Vinita Chaturvedi, working at District Women’s Hospital, Rampur, has been cited for failing to reside at the headquarters, negligence in hospital maintenance, and inadequate oversight of subordinates. Based on the chief development officer’s report, Dr Chaturvedi has also been issued a show-cause notice, and disciplinary actions are being taken by the principal secretary, health.