The single-member Bench of SC Sinha of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the last day of its camp sitting here on Tuesday came down heavily on the poor state of health services and directed the department to immediately dismiss the doctors who don't join their duties in hospitals in rural areas.
While conducting a hearing on the death of a pregnant woman, Sinha directed Health Secretary Arti Ahuja to immediately dismiss doctors who don't join their duties in rural areas leading to various problems.
"Most of the primary health centres (PHCs) in the State are running without doctors. The State Government has agreed to make available at least one doctor round-the-clock at the community health centre (CHC) level following today's direction from the NHRC. The Government has posted doctors in rural health centres but is unaware of their whereabouts while they are drawing their salaries. The NHRC on Tuesday directed their immediate dismissal," said human rights activist Subash Mohapatra, who also a filed a case on the poor state of health services.
Health Secretary Ahuja told reporters that the Government has taken note of the directions of the NHRC and disciplinary action would be initiated against defaulting doctors."Our main constraint is vacancies of doctors. Two to three weeks back, we have hiked remuneration for contractual doctors with special incentives for those serving in KBK districts. That is one step we feel will help in meeting the deficit of doctors. We are trying to fill the gap through contractual doctors," said Ahuja.
Disciplinary action would be taken against doctors found absent from their duties (not reporting at their workplaces) and fresh recruitments will be made against their posts after their removal, she added.Sinha also expressed grave concern over the poor state of school education in the State.
At least 25 cases related to human rights violation were heard on the last day. The cases mostly belong to seven departments including Health and School and Mass Education of 16 districts.Secretaries of different departments and Collectors and SPs of various districts were present.