The state government is reported to have decided to take action against hundreds of of health department staffers for failing to report to duty.
Health and Family Welfare Minister K R Ramesh Kumar said on Thursday that as many as 2108 staffers, including 804 doctors and 1,304 nurses, paramedical staff, lab technicians and other staff members will be suspended from work for absenteeism.
According to the minister, they have not reported for work because of reasons including transfer.
The New Indian Express reports that the minister declared the government decision to suspend the health staffers from work, in a press conference held in Bengaluru.
The minister is reported to have made assurances that measures are being taken to fill the immediate vacancies that will be created as a result of the mass suspension.
Meanwhile, minister Ramesh Kumar also announced the government’s decision to revamp the health sector. The state government is in the process of drafting a new bill that will regulate both private and government hospitals, says the report.
An expert committee headed by retired High Court Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen is expected to submit a report on the functioning of private hospitals within a period of eight weeks.
Through the new proposed bill, the state government aims to bring the private hospitals under the purview of Central-level Clinical Establishment Act (CCEA), which are now regulated by Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (KPME) Act, 2007.
Other revamp measures include purchasing of new ambulances and setting up of pharma stores. Providing nutritious food at affordable costs at government hospitals is also being considered by the government.