Absenteeism, overburden of doctors

The termination of 112 doctors across Jammu and Kashmir amid the exiting dearth of medicos in the Union Territory is pointing towards the burden on the doctors, posted at different health care centres. One can easily imagine the sufferings and hardships of doctors after the issuance of fresh notice by the government in which it was claimed that 112 doctors have been terminated for ‘unauthorized’ absence from their duties for the period of four years to 17 years. It is a known fact that J&K is already facing the shortage of doctors and paramedics, for which the administration has claimed to have taken steps. To address the issue of shortage of doctors in Jammu and Kashmir, the administration has increased 500 MBBS seats last year. However, the unauthorized absence from duties at a time of shortage is certainly pushing the working doctors to lurch at large. The huge rush of patients in the hospitals becomes intolerable for the doctors, who have been asked to work more than the normal duty hours. As the absence of doctors has been made public, it stands the responsibility of the government, especially the concerned department to take immediate steps with regard to filling the vacant posts so that the doctors who are overburdened could heave a sigh of relief. The doctors deserve to be respected by reducing their working hours at the hospitals. Besides, the reduction of working hours will also help in ensuring better patient care at the government run hospitals.