Bhubaneswar: Toughening his stand against indiscipline, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered strict action against medical officers who have been absent from hospitals for a long period.
As many as 128 medical officers and dental surgeons have been absent from work for more than five years in various hospitals across Odisha.
Notices were also published in newspapers to inform them. The Chief Minister has directed the Health Department to initiate disciplinary action against them for unauthorized absence.
In a related move, the Chief Minister has dismissed Dr Bichakhyana Panigrahy, former Medical Officer of Kandhamal Police Hospital, from government service. Dr Panigrahi has been absent from work without permission since 2012. Despite multiple orders from the department to show cause and rejoin duty, he failed to comply. He has been dismissed for lack of interest in patient care.
The Chief Minister said the state government is giving priority to health services by opening new hospitals, modernising existing ones, and establishing new medical colleges.
However, many doctors remain absent after appointment and fail to perform their duty and such behaviour will not be accepted under any circumstances, the Chief Minister said.
