Docs, medical staff in tizzy over leave permit mandate

Kolkata: A government order issued by the state Health department, saying that the doctors and non-medical staff have to take prior permission from the principal secretary of the department before going on a leave for more than 15 days at a stretch, has triggered confusion among the doctors and health workers.

The order says that if the doctors, nurses or any non-medical staff need to take a leave for 15 days or more, they have to seek permission from the health secretary, 30 days prior to the day the leave starts.

In case of someone taking a leave for less than 15 days, they will not be required to take permission from the health secretary, as the departmental head or the head of the institution can clear their leaves. The leave application can be submitted online.

Many of the doctors, nurses and non-medical staff have questioned how can they submit their leave application 30 days prior to the first day of leave in case of emergencies, where someone from their family suddenly falls ill.

A section of doctors said that the new order has triggered confusion among them as it does not give a clear idea on what an applicant would do if he or she requires an urgent leave for more than 15 days. They had also claimed earlier that there was a rule under which the doctors had to seek permission from the health secretary only in case of a leave of 59 days at a stretch.

The Health department has, however, termed it to be a great move for providing better healthcare services to the patients at various hospitals.