AS many as 45 government medical officers of Haryana have been accused of indulging in various kinds of malpractices in the course of performing their duties. This reflects poorly on the government health services across the state. While initiating an inquiry against the doctors is a commendable step, the unethical or illegal activities allegedly prevalent statewide necessitate regular monitoring of health centres.

These doctors allegedly indulged in inappropriate behaviour with patients, referred them to private hospitals or demanded money for issuing medico-legal reports. In a related matter, several other medical officers are under scrutiny as their doctor spouses are working at private clinics in the same town. The situation is particularly deplorable as most of their patients are from the underprivileged section. Being subjected to harassment in government hospitals adds to the woes of the poor.

It is also imperative to address some critical ills plaguing the system. As per the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association, there is a shortage of hundreds of doctors in government-run hospitals of the state. The attrition rate is high as they are quitting government service in favour of the highly lucrative private sector or absenting themselves from duty. Particularly crippling is the loss of potential specialists as medical officers pursue government quota PG courses and find ways to sidestep the legal bond that contracts them to work with the government for a certain number of years. These posts, thus, remain blocked for years before being finally filled.

(This article was first published by The Tribune, India).