- Prolonged Unauthorised Absence
- Provisional Termination Orders Issued
- Teaching Hospitals Face Strain
- Decision by DME
Article Today, Vijayawada:
The Andhra Pradesh Directorate of Medical Education has initiated provisional termination proceedings against sixty two medical faculty members for prolonged unauthorised absence from duty. The action covers twelve associate professors, forty eight assistant professors, and two tutors working in government medical colleges and teaching hospitals across the State.
Basis for the Action
According to the Directorate, the doctors remained absent for more than one year without prior approval or sanctioned leave. Such absence was found to be in violation of service and leave rules applicable to government employees. Therefore, the authorities treated the continued non attendance as abandonment of service, warranting disciplinary action.
Show Cause Notices Issued
Meanwhile, show cause notices have been issued to all the concerned faculty members. They have been asked to explain why their services should not be terminated permanently. The notices were uploaded on the official website of the Directorate of Medical Education and were also displayed on the notice boards of the respective medical colleges and teaching hospitals.
Deadline for Explanation
The doctors have been directed to submit their explanations in person at the Directorate office in Vijayawada by five thirty in the evening on the thirty first of this month. The authorities made it clear that failure to respond within the stipulated time would lead to final termination of services without further notice.
Impact on Medical Education
However, officials acknowledged that prolonged faculty absence has already affected academic schedules and clinical training. Several government medical colleges have been functioning with reduced teaching strength. This has resulted in heavier workloads for attending faculty and limited academic exposure for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Reasons Behind Faculty Attrition
In addition, senior officials pointed to systemic factors contributing to such cases. Many faculty members reportedly moved towards private practice or corporate hospitals, citing better income prospects. Others were said to be dissatisfied with infrastructure gaps, rural postings, administrative delays, and professional pressures within government institutions.
Broader Regional Concern
Meanwhile, similar concerns are being discussed in neighbouring Telangana, where medical colleges are also facing faculty shortages. The expansion of medical education without proportionate recruitment of experienced teachers has emerged as a common challenge. Authorities in both States are reviewing monitoring mechanisms to prevent repeated unauthorised absence.
Need for Institutional Balance
Therefore, experts stress that strict enforcement of service rules must be accompanied by improvements in working conditions. Strengthening academic support systems and ensuring accountability are seen as essential to safeguard the quality of public medical education and patient care.
