TN: Health Officials directed to Hold Review Meetings During Office Hours Only

Written by Medical Dialogues Team Published On 2024-12-02T16:45:11+05:30 | Updated On 2 Dec 2024 4:58 PM IST

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Chennai: In a move to address the long-standing demands of government doctors in Tamil Nadu, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) has issued a directive instructing district health officers to refrain from holding meetings, including review meetings, outside office hours.

This decision, announced on Sunday, follows discussions held earlier in the week between Health Department Additional Chief Secretary Supriya Sahu and representatives of various government doctors' associations. During the meeting, the doctors demanded that the state fill all vacancies in government hospitals and ensure that doctors and health workers are treated with respect and dignity. Following this assurance, the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) called off their boycott protest on Friday.

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In response to the doctors' demand, the Director of Public Health (DPH), Dr T. S. Selvavinayagam, assured that any meetings, including review meetings held in person or through video conferencing at the district health area level (except for extraordinary cases such as epidemic prevention and health emergencies), should not be held outside office hours or on holidays. The directive also emphasised the importance of maintaining a respectful and dignified environment for all government employees during such meetings.

In addition to addressing working hours, Dr Selvavinayagam underscored the need for enhanced safety at primary health centres and sub-health centres. He also stressed the importance of transparency in recruitment, promotion, and employee transfers. Since 2021, the department has transferred around 14,000 employees and promoted nearly 7,000 others through open consultations, ensuring fairness in the process.

The DPH also provided an update on filling the vacant posts. He mentioned that steps will be taken to fill the 2,553 assistant doctor posts, with a notification issued to fill these positions through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB). Additionally, the department is working to fill 2,250 vacancies for village health nurses (VHNs) and 1,060 health inspectors despite some legal hurdles. Dr Selvavinayagam assured that legal proceedings are being expedited to address these vacancies and ensure a fully staffed workforce.

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As per the recent media report by TNIE, Dr Selvavinayagam added, “It is requested that no government employee of this department should act in a manner that would tarnish the department’s reputation, bring disrepute to the government.”

Tamil Nadu Health departmentTNGDATamil Nadu Government Doctors Associationgovernment doctorshealth officers