By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:As many as 128 medical officers and dental surgeons have been absent from duty in various hospitals in Odisha for more than five years. Newspapers were also published to inform about their plight. The Chief Minister has directed the Health Department to take disciplinary action against them for their unauthorized presence.
Similarly, the Chief Minister has dismissed Dr. Bichchana Panigrahi, former Medical Officer of Kandhamal Police Hospital, from government service. Dr. Panigrahi has been absent without leave since 2012. Although the department had directed him to report to work and give reasons for his absence on several occasions, he did not comply. He has been dismissed due to his lack of interest in patient care.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is giving importance to health services and is opening new hospitals, modernizing hospitals and opening new medical colleges for health education. However, after getting appointment, many doctors are absent from work and are not getting the job. The Chief Minister said that this will not be accepted under any circumstances.
