Balochistan dismisses 72 doctors over prolonged absence

The Balochistan Health Department has dismissed 72 doctors from government service for remaining absent from duty for prolonged periods, extending a wider provincial campaign against absenteeism in public healthcare facilities.

An official notification issued by the provincial health secretary said the action covered medical officers in BPS-17 and senior medical officers in BPS-18. Their dismissals took immediate effect under Section 4(B)(viii) of the Balochistan Employees’ Efficiency and Disciplinary Act, 2011.

Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said the affected doctors had received repeated notices directing them to return to duty but failed to respond. He maintained that their continued absence and lack of response ultimately prompted the department to proceed with disciplinary action.

The provincial government says the latest decision raises the number of Health Department employees dismissed for absenteeism to 200. Officials have also reported cumulative salary deductions of Rs410 million for attendance and disciplinary violations, while explanations have been sought from approximately 11,000 employees. Proceedings against another 800 staff members remain underway.

Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti linked the enforcement drive to an artificial intelligence-based attendance system introduced in the department. According to the provincial administration, the technology is being used to monitor whether doctors and other medical personnel are regularly reporting to hospitals and health centres.

The monitoring system forms part of a broader digitalisation programme within the province’s health administration. Earlier departmental planning included AI-supported attendance monitoring, human-resource data reconciliation and digital reporting tools intended to improve accountability at hospitals and district health offices.

The government has not publicly detailed the system’s technical methodology, the facilities currently covered or the process available to employees wishing to contest attendance records. Those details will be important as automated monitoring becomes more closely connected with disciplinary decisions affecting public-sector workers.

Provincial officials argue that stricter attendance enforcement is necessary to improve healthcare access and prevent employees from drawing salaries without performing their duties. The practical impact will depend on whether sustained monitoring produces more reliable staffing at hospitals and basic health facilities, particularly in remote and underserved districts.