Mumbai — In a sweeping move, the Maharashtra Health Department has terminated the services of over 400 probationary medical officers for prolonged absenteeism, intensifying concerns over the state’s ongoing healthcare staffing crisis.
The action, taken on Wednesday, affects doctors appointed under the ‘Group A’ category of government service. Officials said the terminated individuals failed to report to their assigned posts for extended periods without seeking official permission.
As per service rules, probationary medical officers who remain absent for more than seven days without approval can either have their probation period extended by up to a year or face dismissal. In this case, the department opted for termination.
Akola district in the Vidarbha region reported the highest number of terminations, while over 45 affected doctors were from Mumbai, Thane, and Konkan regions.
“Many of these doctors did not complete their tenure because they chose to pursue higher studies or joined other jobs,” a senior health department official told Hindustan Times, explaining the rationale behind the exodus.
The mass termination comes at a time when Maharashtra’s public health system is under severe pressure due to an acute shortage of medical professionals. Earlier reports indicated that more than 500 specialist doctors had declined government job offers, leading to cancellation of appointments meant for gynaecologists, paediatricians, anaesthetists, and other specialists—roles critical to public hospitals, especially in rural and tribal belts.
Experts have attributed the staffing gap to multiple factors, including low government salaries, lack of infrastructure, and bureaucratic delays in recruitment and deployment. Many doctors are opting for private-sector opportunities or positions outside the state that offer better working conditions.
Despite repeated hiring drives, rural and tribal hospitals in Maharashtra continue to operate with skeletal staff and limited resources, hindering their ability to deliver essential medical services.
The latest round of terminations is expected to further strain the already overburdened healthcare system, unless urgent measures are taken to improve recruitment, retention, and working conditions for government doctors.
