Join remote postings or face disciplinary action: Himachal Health Minister warns doctors

Himachal Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil has warned doctors and medical staff that they must join their postings in remote and difficult areas or face disciplinary action. The minister issued this warning while responding to a cut motion on the Health Department in the Vidhan Sabha.

“I would like to make it amply clear that action will be taken against doctors who refuse to obey the transfer orders to remote rural areas, which are facing significant vacancy problems,” Shandil said. They will have to join their postings, even if it’s for a stipulated period, or face action, he added.

The minister explained that the burden on referral institutions will only decrease when health facilities in rural and far-flung areas are strengthened. He assured that efforts are being made to improve healthcare quality, recruit specialists and MBBS doctors, and reduce vacancies.

Shandil also announced several initiatives, including the introduction of robotic surgery at the Tanda medical college and Chamiana super-specialty hospital in Shimla. The state government has allocated Rs 300 crore to strengthen health facilities at medical colleges in Chamba and Hamirpur, and Rs 85 crore to set up a Cancer Centre at Hamirpur.

Additionally, Rs 20.73 crore has been allocated for setting up a PET scan facility at Indira Gandhi Medical College, which will be operational within three months. The government has also sanctioned Rs 105 crore for purchasing three Tesla MRI machines to provide the latest medical equipment.

Other initiatives include setting up CT scan facilities at 34 health institutes, 54 physiotherapy centres, and dialysis facilities at 22 health institutes. The government has also allocated Rs one crore each for Adarsh Swasthya Sansthan in each of the 68 assembly segments.

Shandil announced that the Sahara scheme has benefited 34,000 individuals, with an additional 12,000 new eligible candidates, totalling Rs 139 crore in benefits. He assured that efforts are underway to adjust outsource employees who worked during Covid, as the government is concerned about their wellbeing.

The debate saw participation from MLAs Vipin Parmar, Balbir Verma, Vinod Kumar, Janak Raj, and Daleep Thakur. A key concern raised by all MLAs was the shortage of doctors and para-medical staff in rural and remote areas. They urged that the services of outsource employees in the Health Department, who performed commendably during the pandemic, should not be discontinued.

The cut motion was ultimately put to a voice vote by Speaker Kuldeep Pathania, which led to its downfall as opposition members refused to withdraw it.