The Government would take strict disciplinary action on the absconding bonded medical officers posted in Uttarakhand Medical health department. The State Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi said this while talking with The Pioneer on Wednesday. He informed that he has asked the senior officials of Medical Health department to ensure that the attendance of these doctors is sent weekly by the Chief Medical Officers (CMO) to the office of Director General (DG) medical health.
These Medical Officers had entered into a bond with the State Government at the start of their Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree course that they will serve in remote areas for a period of five years. Many of these MO are reportedly absconding from their duties in gross violation of terms and condition of the bond which they have signed. The senior officials of the Medical health department admit that 37 MOs out of 170 who joined last year are not reporting for their duties from last few months. Health Minister said that the problem the health department faces in acting directly against these absconding doctors is that the State
Government had entered an MOU with the principals of the colleges from where they have passed out but added that these doctors would not be easily let off by the Government.
These doctors are drawn from the MBBS students of government Medical College Haldwani and Vir Chandra Singh Garhwali, Medical College Srinagar. The state government had paid a major portion of fees of these after passing out from the MBBS course these MO were deployed at the remote areas of the state at a monthly salary of `52000 per month.
Under the provision of the Bond the absconding MOs are liable to pay `30 lakhs for breach of agreement to the State Government.