Dead doctor promoted, gets new posting in Punjab

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 21 (UNI) A doctor, who had expired a month back was not only promoted by the Punjab Health Department, but was even given a new posting.

As per the orders that were issued by the principal secretary of the state health department on June 15, Dr Ravinder Kumar Sharma, medical officer who was posted at ESI Hospital, Mandi Gobindgarh, was promoted as senior medical officer and posted at civil hospital Bassi Pathana.

Dr Sharma had met with a fatal accident on May 16 as he was hit by a train while crossing a railway line in Mandi Gobindgarh.

The name of Dr Sharma had appeared in the list of the 77 doctors who had been either promoted or given new postings by the state health department. These orders had been issued by Vijay Kain, principal secretary of the health department.

The matter came to light as some of the doctors at the ESI hospital noticed the laxity and informed the Civil Surgeon. The Civil Surgeon despite receiving the information, circulated the promotion orders to all the concerned departments.

When contacted civil surgeon Dr S M S Sidhu said that the matter had been brought to his notice and he had already sent a written order to the health department highlighting the negligence.

He said the death of the doctor had been reported as per the service rules, but somehow the health department failed to take notice of the information sent by the district health authorities.

UNI