LAHORE: The Punjab Health Department has issued new orders revising the authority to approve leave for doctors and employees in teaching hospitals and medical institutions.
Under the new instructions, the power to grant leave to senior doctors has been withdrawn from the administrations of teaching hospitals. Hospitals will now only be able to approve up to 89 days of leave for employees up to Grade 17.
According to the notification, leave applications from senior registrars to professors will be approved by health department officers. In addition, the department will also approve all types of leave for general cadre doctors in Grades 18 to 20.
However, the authority to approve maternity leave and menstrual leave for female doctors and staff will remain with the respective hospitals.
Previously, heads of hospitals had the authority to approve up to 89 days of leave for all doctors and government employees. The new policy shifts much of that authority to the provincial health department.
