Politics · India Bureau
Andhra Pradesh dismisses 70 doctors for prolonged absence; 193 more under scrutiny
Andhra Pradesh has terminated 70 government doctors who remained absent without leave for over a year, with another 193 facing disciplinary action. The state's health ministry aims to complete the process within three months and fill vacant positions.
LSN India ·
The Andhra Pradesh health department has dismissed 70 government doctors for extended absence without authorisation, marking a significant enforcement action against workforce absenteeism in the state's medical services. The terminated doctors had remained absent for periods exceeding one year, prompting the government to take definitive action to address staffing challenges in the health sector.
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has initiated disciplinary proceedings against an additional 193 doctors found to be absent without leave. The minister has set a three-month timeline for completing the disciplinary process across all cases, aiming to streamline operations within the state's health infrastructure.
Among the doctors previously absconded, 78 have since rejoined the service after being allowed to return on condition of accepting penalties. This conditional reinstatement reflects the government's approach of balancing workforce restoration with accountability measures.
The state administration views the dismissals and pending actions as necessary steps to address chronic vacancies in government health facilities. By completing disciplinary proceedings expeditiously, the health ministry aims to identify permanent staffing gaps and initiate recruitment processes to strengthen healthcare delivery across Andhra Pradesh.