Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has directed officials to take action against doctors and department staff who have remained absent from duty without authorisation for extended periods.
Action Against 493 Absent Doctors
During a review meeting in Mangalagiri, the Minister was informed that 493 doctors were still unauthorisedly absent from duty. He directed officials to initiate appropriate action against them within a maximum period of three months.
The Minister also instructed officials to seek explanations from employees responsible for delays and initiate disciplinary action where necessary.
Stricter Rules for Medical Leave
The Minister said employees seeking leave on medical grounds must submit certification from government doctors. According to the report, medical certificates or recommendations issued by private doctors will not be accepted.
Reducing Delays in File Processing
The review meeting also examined delays caused by staff shortages. According to a departmental release, 4,410 matters had been brought to the Minister’s attention since the TDP-led NDA government came to power, with many relating to transfers. Only around 40% of these files had been disposed of.
As per the department’s release, the Minister directed officials to ensure that no file remains pending at any level for more than two days. The department also decided to develop a dashboard to monitor file status and improve accountability.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary G. Veerapandian, Joint Secretary Ronanki Gopalakrishna, Drug Control Administration Director General Arun Babu and other senior officials.