Andhra Pradesh Sacks 70 Doctors for Year-Long Absence, 193 More Face Axe

The Andhra Pradesh government has dismissed 70 government doctors who were absent without leave for over a year, as part of a sweeping disciplinary crackdown. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced the dismissals on [date], stating that 193 more doctors are facing similar action. The move aims to address chronic absenteeism in the state's public health system.

The minister has directed officials to complete the disciplinary process within three months and to fill the resulting vacancies promptly. In a related development, 78 doctors who had been absent have been allowed to rejoin after paying penalties. The government's action underscores its zero-tolerance approach to unauthorized absence, which has long plagued healthcare delivery in rural areas.

The mass dismissals could exacerbate staff shortages in government hospitals, but officials argue that the move will improve accountability and patient care. The opposition has criticized the government for failing to address the root causes of absenteeism, such as poor working conditions and delayed salaries. The next steps include expediting recruitment to fill the vacancies and implementing reforms to prevent future occurrences.