Doctors Boycott Biometric Attendance System in Jharkhand

Jharkhand government doctors protested the biometric attendance system, labeling it infeasible for emergency services. During a joint meeting, it was decided to boycott the system as it did not consider the unique duty hours and emergency responsibilities of doctors. Technical flaws and lack of proper internet also posed significant issues.

In Jharkhand, government doctors on Tuesday boycotted the biometric attendance system, terming it 'not feasible' for emergency services.

Doctors asserted that they arrived at their hospitals and health centers punctually but avoided the biometric system in protest, opting for offline attendance instead.

This boycott decision was reached at a joint meeting involving the Jharkhand units of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA). The protest comes in response to a government order mandating the biometric system for all employees.

JHSA state secretary Mrityunjay Thakur Singh noted that the letter did not address emergency service concerns. He highlighted that the order fixes duty hours unsuitable for emergency medical staff. Jharkhand IMA secretary, Pradip Kumar Singh, emphasized that physical needs and unpredictable hours of healthcare professionals render the biometric system unfeasible.

Singh raised additional issues including technical flaws in the system and inadequate internet coverage in various parts of the state. He warned that enforcing such a system could disrupt critical medical duties, especially during special assignments like VIP duties or significant events.

Ranchi Sadar Hospital surgeon Dr. Ajit Kumar emphasized that excluding emergency services from the order is crucial, as rigid adherence could compromise patient care during procedures.