Andhra dismisses 70 government doctors absent without leave for over a year; 193 more face action

Andhra Pradesh has dismissed 70 government doctors, including gynaecologists, ENT specialists and general physicians, who stayed away from work without permission for more than a year. Action is under way against 193 more, the State government said on Friday (October 2, 2026).

The action follows directions from Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, who has instructed officials not to show any leniency towards prolonged unauthorised absenteeism and to complete the disciplinary process within three months, the statement said. He has also directed officials to fill vacancies arising from such dismissals under the government’s “zero vacancy policy”.

The Directorate of Secondary Health (DSH) has dismissed 70 Civil Assistant Surgeons who had remained absent without authorisation for more than a year. The doctors include specialists in gynaecology, ENT, general medicine and other disciplines.

According to DSH Director Chakradhar Babu, the doctors were issued show-cause notices and action was taken after following the prescribed disciplinary procedure under Rule 20 of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1991.

Another 154 doctors under the DSH are absent without authorisation and have been issued show-cause notices. Further action is at various stages. Officials are also allowing doctors who come forward to rejoin duty to do so, subject to disciplinary measures such as the withholding of increments. So far, 78 doctors have rejoined duty through this process.

Under the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), 39 doctors have been given a final opportunity to return to duty. They have remained absent without sanctioned leave for more than a year but less than two years. Though show-cause notices were issued earlier, they neither responded nor resumed duty.

DME Director Vishnuvardhan said the doctors would be given a final opportunity in accordance with service rules and would be removed from service if they failed to respond. The 39 doctors include five professors, four associate professors and 30 assistant professors.

The DME had already dismissed 51 doctors permanently in May for prolonged unauthorised absence. Officials said doctors stayed away from duty for various reasons, including private practice, dissatisfaction with postings, health and family-related issues and other personal reasons.

A recent assessment covering all Heads of Departments (HoDs) under the Health and Family Welfare Department identified 493 doctors and other employees as being absent from duty. Besides the DSH and DME, unauthorised absenteeism was reported in the National Health Mission (contractual staff), the Health and Family Welfare Department, AYUSH, the Drugs Control Administration and Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences.

Officials informed the Minister that disciplinary action, including dismissal, was being initiated against the 493 employees in accordance with service rules. The government has directed the departments to expedite the process and fill resulting vacancies wherever necessary.