Hyderabad: Amid a shortage of faculty in govt medical colleges and hospitals in Telangana, the health department has decided to give 94 govt doctors who were issued show-cause notices for prolonged unauthorised absence another chance.Initially, notices were served to 115 doctors. Of these, 21 responded, expressing their willingness to continue working. Twenty of these doctors have already returned to work, while one doctor who is currently studying for an MCh in Urology will return to work after completing the course.“The notices were issued to doctors who were absent from duty without authorisation for varying periods. A review meeting was held to assess their responses and willingness to continue working. The remaining 94 doctors did not attend the meeting or respond within the stipulated time. However, the department decided to give them another opportunity, noting that some may have been unable to attend due to being posted outside their place of duty,” said a senior official from the DME office.Officials said the absentees included doctors who had been away at various times between 2013 and 2024. In six cases, the doctors did not take up their posts at all after being appointed. Those issued with notices included assistant and associate professors from departments such as obstetrics and gynaecology, general medicine, general surgery, anaesthesiology, paediatrics and radiology.‘Poor pay’However, a senior govt doctor said poor pay structure and working conditions discouraged doctors from joining or continuing in service. “Recruitment was done on UGC norms, but salaries are close to basic pay, with no transport allowance, non-practice allowance, or proper HRA. There is also no pay difference for super-speciality professors. Other states offer better allowances, and infrastructure and health coverage for doctors remain inadequate. With high inflation and heavy workload due to vacancies, it is becoming difficult to attract and retain faculty,” the doctor added.
