Medics in the line of fire

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 21: The chief medical officer of health, Malda, Dr Gopal Sarkar, has identified four doctors as “evaders” and informed the treasury officer not to give them their full salary for a month. After receiving a circular from the directorate of health, Dr Sarkar was forced to execute the system, sources said. It was detected that the identified doctors didn’t attend their assignment and did not go to the health centre in the working days but claimed salary for a month. The government circular said that if it were detected that the doctors attended two to three days in a week their salary would be paid on daily basis. In rural health centres, it was found that doctors did not attend the health centres regularly and patients were deprived of proper treatment. The circular also directed the CMOH to monitor the government doctors who are practicing privately. It was mentioned in the circular that the health department has lost image and reputation due to a group of doctors who misguide patients coming to hospitals and transfer them to private nursing homes. The CMOH has also been instructed to keep an eye on health workers including the nursing staff in the hospital. “If the CMOH fails to send proper monitoring report to the higher authorities, the department will appoint private agencies to prepare report of the administrative system of the district health department,” the circular said. The CMOH, Dr Gopal Sarkar, told the reporters that he had tried to report the situation earlier but could not do so due to pressure from a section within the department.