Hyderabad: Show-cause notices to doctors being absent

Hyderabad: Dr Ambika Samuel and Dr V. Sumedha were served a showcause notice for being absent from duty at the Medchal urban health centre. They were caught out when health minister Dr Laxma Reddy visited at 10.30 pm on Monday, and did not turn up for the duration of his stay there.

The minister called the director of health and wanted to know why the doctors were not on duty. Following this, the notice was issued to the doctors. If they do not reply in three days, their services will be terminated.

A senior health official said the minister was making random visits to clinics and hospitals to ensure discipline among staff. at the ground level. He said there were constant complaints that public health centres were not being opened in time, and that sufficient  stock of medicides was not available there.

“This is forcing many patients to be taken to private hospitals or government tertiary hospitals," he said.