Telangana: Biometric system at state-run hospitals likely

Hyderabad: The state health department is planning to install biometric attendance system across state-run hospitals, primary health centres (PHCs) and Community health centres (CHCs) in a bid to ensure that doctors, nurses and medical staff turn up at their workplaces and clock the required number of hours. In a recent review meeting by the department, it was found that the attendance of government doctors was as low as 20-30 per cent at healthcare facilities.

“The attendance of doctors was found to be alarmingly low. In many smaller centres, the government-appointed doctors indulged in private practice and skipped coming to the PHCs and CHCs. The scenario is leading to confusion among patients as to when to go to the hospital and see the doctor,” said a senior official from the state health department. He added that a biometric attendance system seems to be the only way to improve public confidence in the healthcare system.“While the timing for PHCs is 9.30 am to 4 pm, at many PHCs the scenario is that doctors are available only twice or thrice a week. In the absence of the doctors, patients in rural areas seek treatment at private hospitals. It was also found that at many places basic infra like chairs and fans were missing,” he said.