140 surgeons in UP hospitals but no operation in last 3 months

The fact came to light in a report prepared by the state Health Directorate after compiling the data related to performance of government doctors from across the state. "There are over 140 surgeons posted in various government hospitals, who have not performed even a single surgery in last three months as against the government target of performing 50 surgeries in a month. These doctors have not taken their job seriously," Director General, Medial and Health S P Ram told PTI.

"We have submitted our report to the government for further action," Ram said. Maximum number of 15 such "non-performing" doctors are from Sitapur followed by Allahabad which has 14 such doctors.

Interestingly, all these doctors have been warned orally several times. Now the state government will serve notices to the doctors asking them to explain the reasons for not performing surgeries or face the music, a senior Health official said.

"The government is tough against these non performing doctors and is also mulling an idea to give such doctors, who have attained the age of 50 years, compulsory retirement," State Health Minister Anant Kumar Mishra said.

The state health department is already facing shortage of doctors and even those who are selected by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) are not joining duties. Any action by the government is likely to draw wrath of state doctors' association.

"With private sector providing hefty pay and better facilities, doctors employed by the government are switching to private sector. Action like compulsory retirement might make the situation from bad to worse," a UP Provincial Medical Association (UPPMS) office bearer said.

The state health department had advertised for 5,511 posts of doctors last year, out of which, the UPPSC was able to appoint 2,349 only. During the orientation ceremony of the doctors in May, 2009, only 1,547 doctors turned up and less than 1,000 doctors finally joined the services.