Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Wednesday said that influential doctors in Kashmir are given choicest postings in brazen violation of transfer policy. Taking a strong exception to this, President DAK Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan in a statement said that transfer policy of doctors is being blatantly flouted, with the sole objective of giving places of choice to blue-eyed doctors.Influential get postings to their convenience and comfort and the voiceless suffer.Health department is defying the transfer policy that was adopted in the interest of patient care and smooth functioning of health institutions especially those located in far-flung areas.As per the transfer policy, the minimum tenure of a doctor on a post shall be two years and a maximum of three years.But, the favorites remain posted on their places of choice for decades.There are doctors who are posted in a Srinagar hospital for the last 20 years.
According to the policy, every doctor has to “compulsorily” serve for a minimum period of two years in Category “A” (very difficult) and for five years in Category “B/C” (difficult) health institutions in his/her first ten years of service.
However, influential doctors enjoy prize postings on their first appointment.The policy further states that doctors selected in health department against RBA Category shall serve in such areas for a period of no less than seven years.But, these doctors have never seen their areas.Some doctors who are engaged on contractual basis for patient care in far-flung areas have been attached to Directorate of Health Services.Hundreds of specialist doctors belonging to health department have been posted in GMC Srinagar, depriving people in far-flung areas of specialist services.While the government in a recent order warned employees not to bring influence for transfers, doctors continue to get recommendations for their postings.The favoritism and nepotism has turned health department into an industry of transfers.As a result, peripheral health care is in complete mess and patients suffer the consequences. (CNS)