Ahmedabad: Show up or face FIR, health dept writes to 1,012 doctors

Ahmedabad: In one of the biggest drives at the tail end of the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, the state health department on Monday issued notices to 1,012 doctors who are on bond, to report to their respective districts or face an FIR under the Epidemic Diseases Act.

The notification, issued by state health commissioner Jai Prakash Shivahare, stated that 213 of these doctors are currently working with private hospitals, whereas 799 others have not responded to the notice from the department.

'A show-cause notice will first be issued on why action under the Epidemic Diseases Act should not be taken against them. If the doctors have already paid their bond, a copy showing this should be submitted to the CDHO of the district to cancel the notice. If a doctor is already working with a state government-run or GMERS hospital, proof of it should be presented to CDHO,' the notification states.

The notification states that if any doctor is on notice period with a private hospital, evidence of it should be presented. If candidates are not fulfilling any of these conditions and do not respond to the notice in seven days, they will face an FIR under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the notification adds.

Sources privy to the development said the threat of punitive action has not gone down well with many junior doctors who are preparing for further studies or working with private establishments.