Resentment is brewing among the recently transferred doctors of State health services on the blatant disregard of the transfer policy in the transfers. Moreover questions are being asked over the veracity of these transfers since the State Government has declared current year as zero session for transfers.
The health department recently transferred 20 doctors of State health services. These transfers have created such a resentment among the doctors that some of them are contemplating to challenge the order in High Court while some of them are even thinking in terms of retiring from the State services.
What is more disturbing that most of these doctors instead of joining new
assignments have gone on leave due to which the patients visiting the hospitals are bearing the brunt.
The blame of transferred doctors about violation of transfers’ policy is not without substance.
One such doctor Nisha Rani who was transferred from Haldwani to Ramnagar had already completed the mandatory period of posting in a mountainous location. To add to her misery, there are scores of such doctors posted in comfortable places in Dehradun, Haldwani and Haridwar for years have no stint of hill posting in their career.
Similarly, Dr Vandana Sundariyal was shifted from Doon Female hospital to Haridwar. It is learnt that she was the one who has served for least period in the hospital among the serving gynaecologists. Moreover, her husband Dr Mukesh Sundariyal is posted in Dehradun. Under the transfer policy husband and wife are supposed to be posted in a district.
The Director General (DG) of State health services, Dr Kusum Narriyal said that these transfers were made to provide doctors in bigger health centres. She said that the complaints of the doctors would be looked into.
Meanwhile the grapevine in the department is that money played the most important role in these transfers and it was the reason why the transfer policy was overlooked. It is also learnt that another list of transfers is also ready which is sure to add more fuel to the resentment.
“The department should follow the policy while doing the transfers. The issue is that some of the doctors are comfortably posted at good locations for years while others are shunted out regularly. There would be no resentment if the policy is followed in letter and spirit,’’ said one of a doctors of State health services.