Punjab govt chargesheets doc, issues show cause notice to SMO

Punjab government today chargesheeted a woman doctor and issued show cause notice to a Senior Medical Officer (SMO) on alleged charge of laxity in performing their duties.
The action was taken following a surprise check at Civil Hospital here by Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, an official spokesman said.
While Dr Alka Mittal, gynaecologist posted in the hospital here was chargesheeted, a show cause notice was issued to Dr Raj Kumar Karkara, SMO.
Conveying a "stern and exemplary" message to the doctors to be "honest" towards their duties, the minister underlined zero tolerance for insolent behaviour of doctors.

The minister reached Ludhiana Civil Hospital today after receiving a call on his mobile, giving details of the inattentive attitude and frequent absenteeism of the doctors.
The minister found that the complaint was based on absolute facts, the spokesman said.

Dr Mittal was found absent without informing the seniors. She was supposed to attend the OPD today which was being handled by some junior doctor.
Jyani took a serious note of the "carelessness" on the part of the SMO for failing to take any punitive action against the doctors posted in Civil Hospital who were prescribing medicines to patients even though enough stock was lying within the government hospital.

Dr Karkara ignored the directive of the state government to provide medicines to patients in the hospitals.