Vellore PHC doc in soup for skipping duty

District Collector Dr Vijay Pingale on Sunday directed the Deputy Director (DD) of Health department, Jayanthi, to suspend block medical officer, Dr Ram Manohar, of Upgraded Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Jamunamarathur, for unauthorised absenteeism and signing the attendance register well in advance.

The unauthorised absenteeism of Dr Ram Manohar came to light after a group of residents of Jamunamarathur accosted Kalasapakkam MLA Agri S S Krishnamurthi, who had come to attend the valedictory function of Jawadhu Hills Summer Festival on Sunday, and submitted a petition on the irregularities at the PHC.

Krishnamurthi said the tribals approached him with complaints against the irregularity of doctors in the PHC at Jamunamarathur. “The residents of Jamunamarathur said the doctors were coming to the PHC once a week, signing the register for the entire week in advance and not turning up for duty for rest of the days. They are also not treating the patients properly,” said the MLA. After submitting a petition in this regard, they urged him to conduct a spot inspection and also accompanied him to the health centre. The staff at the PHC said the doctor had gone to a special camp, which was organised as part of the summer festival programme. The MLA and the residents checked for the doctor at the special camp but he was not present there as well.

Krishnamurthi also found that Dr Ram Manohar had signed the register till August 20. “Following this, I informed the Collector about the irregularities and also handed over the attendance to him. The public have also submitted a number of complaints against the doctor to me and the Collector,” said the MLA.

After conducting an inquiry into the incident, the Collector found that the block medical officer was absent while the other three junior doctors were at the special camp. “After going through the attendance register and confirming the absenteeism of the doctor, I have directed the DD of Tiruvannamalai to place him under suspension immediately. I have also asked the DD to submit a detailed report of the incident and take departmental action against the doctor,” said Pingale.

Health department sources said the department would issue the suspension order on Tuesday to the doctor and initiate departmental inquiry into the incident.