The Baruipur Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH) in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district asked the doctors to share their current location on the WhatsApp, who were engaged in performing outpatient department (OPD) service, on-call service, OT service, emergency service, high-dependency unit (HDU service and special newborn care units services. They said that this was in line with a notice issued by the health department, which had made it mandatory for all government doctors to devote at least 40 hours a week at work.

But, a senior health department official said that no such notice was issued by the Swastha Bhawan (department administration) and it was the decision of Baruipur Sub-Divisional Hospital to the doctors to share their mobile location. Dr Subhranshu Chakraborty, Deputy Director of Health Administration said, that he had no such knowledge and was aware only when the matter was brought to Swastha Bhawan’s notice. He added that the Sub-Divisional Hospital had revoked the notice. 

Sajal Biswas, general secretary of the Service Doctors Forum, said that such a notice was a violation of human rights. A section of doctors was enraged and called it an “autocratic move” which was humiliating and trashing the image of doctors.

The Association of Health Service Doctors has requested the director health department to look into the matter in writing.

Source: The Indian Express