Govt doctors protest biometric attendance amid staff shortage
TIMES NEWS NETWORK 09.10.2024
Chennai : Opposing govt’s decision to implement biometric attendance, a govt doctors’ association in Tamil Nadu has written to the chief secretary, saying that this measure is discriminatory and unfair, especially when doctors are understaffed and overburdened across govt hospitals. Earlier, the state health department had asked all hospitals under the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and the Directorate of Medical Services (DMS) to purchase instruments for attendance through facial recognition and had asked all doctors to download software on their mobile phones.
According to the Indian Public Health Standards, Tamil Nadu needs 30,000 doctors in govt hospitals. “The sanctioned post is only 20,000, and among these, 4,000 posts are vacant. This means we are working with just 50% of the strength,” said service and post graduate doctors association state secretary, Dr A Ramalingam. In his letter to chief secretary N Muruganandam, the association said, “Because of severe manpower shortages, govt doctors are compelled to do 24-hour duty, risking the lives of both themselves and the public.” In addition, doctors are being pushed to generate revenue through the state health insurance scheme, which was introduced in 2009 for the benefit of patients, he said.
Despite severe staff shortage, doctors have ensured Tamil Nadu remains atop performer in healthcare services, he said. If the govt wants biometric attendance, it must increase sanctioned posts and implement a shift system to reduce burden on doctors and ensure adequate rest, he said. The association said biometric attendance should not be imposed solely on doctors but should include all staff, including secretarial and administrative staff at the hospital.
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