Chandigarh, September 8
Though Haryana has started relieving the re-employed doctors at the age of 58, Punjab is still continuing with the practice. The state Health Department has a large army of doctors who have been re-employed.
After Congress came to power in 2017, it had done away with the system of giving any extension to the state government employees beyond the age of 58. Following that, a large number of doctors were relieved.
But after the Covid outbreak, it started giving extension to retiring doctors. Though the provision of extension was mainly meant for clinical work, the government kept on giving extension to even those doctors who were not involved in any clinical work but were carrying out administrative duties.
For example, Dr Manjit Singh, former Director Health Services (DHS), who retired in December last year, has been given extension till March 2022 and posted as Director, Punjab Health Systems Corporation. Similarly, Dr Avneet Kaur, another DHS, who retired in March 2020, continued on the post till December 2020. She then served as Covid consultant till March 2021.
Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, who was handpicked to become Director, Family Welfare, superseding at least 15 others seniors to her, was offered a plum post after her retirement in December 2020. Currently, she is Adviser, Health Department, against a non-existent post. Another senior doctor, who is taking care of the administrative work of the TB control programme and is going to superannuate this month, has been given extension. — TNS
Plum postings
- Dr Manjit Singh, former Director Health Services (DHS), who retired in December last year, has been given extension till March 2022. He is posted as Director, Punjab Health Systems Corporation
- Dr Avneet Kaur, another DHS, who retired in March 2020, continued on the post till December 2020. She served till March 2021 as Covid consultant
- Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, retired as Director, Family Welfare, in December 2020. Currently, she is Adviser to the Health Dept against a non-existent post
An army of re-employed doctors in Punjab
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