UP Deputy CM questions additional health secretary over transfer of doctors in state

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has questioned the Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health), Amit Mohan Prasad, over the transfer of doctors in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has questioned the Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health), Amit Mohan Prasad over the transfer of doctors in the state in his absence.

According to sources, Pathak, who also holds the medical and health portfolios, was unhappy about the fact that the transfer list of doctors was issued while he was away attending the BJP's national executive meeting in Hyderabad.

After his return, he wrote to Amit Mohan Prasad, the additional chief secretary, stating that it had come to his notice that proper procedure was not followed for the transfer of doctors across the state as per the policies.

"Thus, provide the complete details of all those who have been transferred along with the reasons for their transfer," he stated.

He said he was told that specialist doctors were transferred from districts where they were needed in big hospitals, including Lucknow, and no substitutes were appointed in their place. He also sought details of the arrangements made for the smooth conduct of medical services after the transfer of such a large number of doctors from important and big hospitals.

The Opposition has termed the transfers a scam. Speaking to India Today, Congress MLC Deepak Singh said there were scams taking place in all departments and officers were making transfers under the nose of the minister on their own free will.

Samajwadi Party leader Manoj Pandey has also termed the objection raised by the minister as a major failure of the department. Pandey said the secretary and the officers concerned do not have the right to transfer on their own, so it is clearly visible that the minister does not have the trust of his officers, who are transferring without knowledge.