DG (Health) can now extend, terminate doctors’ contract

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 27

The Department of Health and Family Welfare has vested powers with the Director General of Health and Family Welfare to extend or terminate the contracts of doctors.

As earlier the powers were with the department, there were constant delay in extending the contracts, leading to dissatisfaction and confusion among the doctors who had no clarity about their future.

“Though the entire evaluation and assessment of contractual doctors is carried out at the Directorate, the files used to be sent to the department for the final approval. However, now we have issued orders to clear the issues related to termination and extension of contract at the Directorate level, ie with the DG,” said Om Prakash, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare.

This arrangement was in place when the BJP Government was in power but the decision was revoked during the present Congress government’s rule.

Further, aware that once the transfer list is issued, a few doctors may opt for voluntary retirement to evade transfers, the department has decided to take disciplinary action. “We will not be coerced or blackmailed into going back on our decision to move the doctors who have been in the district hospitals in the plain areas for a period of 10 years. Such tactics, where doctors are threatening to take VRS, will not work,” said Om Prakash.

Meanwhile, as the doctors await the transfer list to be made public, a rumour has been floated that the government was planning to bring changes in the transfers so that the period of 10 years could be extended to 15 years in order to give them relief.

“The transfer list is not out, it is still being worked out and we are not planning to increase the period of service in one place,” said Om Prakash.