The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) on Monday initiated action against 19 doctors and three health professionals over professional misconduct. The health personnel have been absent without leave (AWOL) from the office for over 60 days.

Issuing a public notice on Monday, the MoHP said many of them did not report to the ministry or furnish a satisfactory clarification to a regular notice. “The listed officials should furnish clarification along with evidences as to why the ministry should not take action in the next one week,” reads the notice. The health personnel shall face a life ban from health services.

According to the Health Ministry, medical officers Dr Rohit Kumar Chaudhary at Mechi Zonal Hospital, Jhapa; Dr Jenny Bhuju, of Dadhikot Primary Health Care Centre, Bhaktapur; Dr Nirmal Lamichanne of Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara; Dr Binu Thapa of Chetrapati Pariwar Kalyan Centre, Kathmandu; Dr Dinesh Maharjan of Panchkhal Primary Health Centre Kavre and Dr Naresh Bhandari, Ayurvedic doctor at Dhaulagiri Zonal Ayurvedic Hospital, Baglung were not present at the hospital for long. Also on AWOL were Dr Deepak Maharjan of Kotjahari Primary Health Centre, Rukum; Dr Ananda Raj Khanal and Dr Meghana Tiwari Khanal of Bharatpur Hospital, Chitwan; Dr Kuver Sharma of Udasipur Primary Health Centre, Kailali; Dr Satrudhan Prasad Bastola of District Health Office, Arghakhachi; Dr Laxman Pariyar of Primary Health Centre Baitadi; Dr Baburam Bastakoti of NAMS, Bir hospital; Dr Gajendra Das of Primary Health Centre, Panchatar; Dr Pragati Jha of Primary Health Centre, Makwanpur; Dr Risikesh Thakur of Primary Health Centre, Mohattari and Dr Joshanlal Bajracharya of District Hospital, Sunsari.  

Paeditrician Dr Simmi Mishra Gurubacharya of Hetauda Hospital, Makwanpur and Dr Anita Thapa, Gynaecologist at Dhawalagiri Zonal Hospital, Baglung, have been asked to produce clarification. Health professionals including Ram Prasad Bhattarai, Subina Bajracharya and Pabitra Subedi Bista have been irregular at the office.