Mumbai: Three senior medical teachers heading super-speciality departments at BMC-run KEM Hospital, Parel, have sought voluntary retirement after receiving notices from the civic body over attendance. They are among 100 doctors from BMC’s five medical colleges who received notices after an inspection of biometric records revealed prolonged absences and single or irregular swipes.
BMC director of medical education Shailesh Mohite told TOI that some doctors were found swiping in during the morning and leaving soon thereafter for private hospitals. “Some would return for rounds late in the night and disturb sleeping patients,” he said. His position is that doctors must be available for the mandated 9 am-to-4 pm duty.
Over a decade ago, BMC allowed its teachers to take up private practice after 4 pm to stop them from leaving for high-paying private hospital affiliations.
The latest action followed complaints about doctors being unavailable in OPDs and departments. Notices have been issued to 36 doctors at KEM, 30 at Sion Hospital, 24 at Nair Hospital near Mumbai Central, nine at Cooper Hospital in Juhu and one at Nair Dental Hospital, civic officials said.
Mohite said attendance would henceforth be closely monitored. “Many doctors have responded to the notices. We will review them soon,” he said. Regarding the VRS applications, a senior BMC official said, “VRS applications seem to be pressure tactics.”
BMC public health committee chairman Harish Bhandirge said the action was aimed at ensuring doctors were available to patients. “I have many times seen patients waiting for hours because a doctor is not available,” he said.
Among those issued notices was KEM Hospital dean Harish Pathak. Three professors have applied for VRS after receiving notices, said a doctor from the hospital.
Pathak said biometric attendance was an important administrative mechanism but the contribution of senior medical teachers, particularly in super-speciality disciplines, should also be assessed through clinical and academic parameters.
“We must also consider measurable indicators such as clinical workload, number and complexity of procedures and surgeries performed, patient outcomes, emergency and after-hours services, teaching responsibilities, postgraduate supervision, research and academic contribution,” he said.
A senior KEM doctor said the hospital provides several specialised services and expertise that may not be readily available elsewhere in the public health system. Another said there are many days when doctors spend more than seven hours at the hospital.
Sewri UBT Shiv Sena corporator Sachin Padwal questioned the criteria used to issue the notices. “You cannot judge a doctor’s performance solely on their absence during the duty hours. In my ward, many seek out certain doctors at civic hospitals because of their experience and expertise. The administration should consider these factors.”
Sewri UBT Shiv Sena corporator Sachin Padwal questioned the criteria used to issue the notices. “You cannot judge a doctor’s performance solely on their absence during the duty hours. In my ward, many seek out certain doctors at civic hospitals because of their experience and expertise. The administration should consider these factors.”
