Suhail Rather
Bandipora, Aug 2 (KNS) : In a strongly worded circular issued on Friday, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Bandipora has directed all doctors, medical officers and paramedical staff to adhere strictly to professional ethics and government service conduct rules, citing multiple lapses in prescribing practices, duty assignments, and record maintenance across health institutions in the district.
The circular, accessed by the Kashmir Convener, highlights serious concerns over doctors favouring branded drugs over generic medicines, which the CMO said is in violation of the government’s mandate and raises questions of bias and negligence.
The CMO has directed all Block Medical Officers (BMOs) and Medical Superintendents of District and Sub-District Hospitals to conduct fortnightly prescription audits, identify defaulting practitioners, and submit action-taken reports to the CMO’s office for further communication to higher authorities.
“It has come to the notice of the undersigned that some doctors are not prescribing generic medicines and are instead promoting branded drugs. This practice violates service rules and reflects negligence of duties,” the circular reads.
The CMO also took strong note of night duty assignments being given to ISM doctors and MLHPs despite the availability of sufficient MBBS doctors at various New Type Primary Health Centres (NTPHCs), PHCs, and CHCs.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Terming this as an unacceptable practice that adversely affects patient care, the circular mandates that ISM doctors should only be deployed for night duties under the direct supervision of MBBS doctors, and each Medical Officer must perform at least two 24×7 duties per week.
The order further stressed professional decorum, directing all doctors and paramedics to wear proper dress code with aprons and name plates during duty hours.
The CMO also flagged gross negligence in the updating of patient details in In-Patient Department (IPD) files, calling it an unethical lapse. All Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) have been instructed to ensure compliance and accountability in this regard.
The circular also highlighted poor performance by some doctors in updating Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) on the JK eSahaj portal, warning that any doctor appearing again in the list of non-performers in the next dashboard review will face salary stoppage. Responsibility for enforcing this has been placed on the respective DDOs.
The CMO has made it clear that any deviation from the instructions will be viewed seriously and may lead to administrative action. The directives are part of ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, patient care, and accountability in the public health system of Bandipora.(KNS)