Negligence in HP Health Dept Lets 45 Docs Walk Away from Bond, Court Slams Officials

Shimla, May 29:

In a major embarrassment for the Himachal Pradesh Health Department, the High Court has pulled up officials for their "sheer negligence and callous attitude," which allowed 45 postgraduate doctors to walk away from their mandatory service bonds—costing the state dearly.

HP High Court has literally caught the health Ministery and its officials Napping showing how least bothered are they.

These doctors had pursued their PG courses at state expense and had signed a bond promising to serve the state for two years post-degree.

But thanks to bureaucratic delay, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) and other concerned authorities failed to issue their field posting orders within the stipulated one-month period after the declaration of results.

As per Clause 6.8.2 of the PG/Super Speciality Policy dated February 27, 2019, if the government fails to issue posting orders within a month, the bond condition becomes null and void for "direct candidates."

Taking advantage of this loophole—caused by administrative apathy—the 45 doctors have been legally permitted to exit the bond.

The Court didn’t mince words and directed the Minister-in-Charge of the Health Department to take appropriate legal action against the erring officials responsible for the delay.

The Court emphasized that such negligence cannot be allowed to repeat, especially when it leads to such significant losses to the state exchequer and shortage of specialist doctors in government hospitals.

It needs to be mentionef here: Who are these health officials,one is health secretary M Sudha who also figured in the discussion in the last Vidhan sabha as well. 

The episode has not only raised questions over the efficiency of the Health Department but also sparked concerns over how carelessness can derail critical public health services in a state that often grapples with a shortage of trained medical professionals.