As many as 61 staffers of various departments under the Ministry of Health and Population were fired this year for remaining absent for over two months without leave sanctioned.

Hari Nath Acharya, spokesperson for the ministry, said here Sunday that those fired include doctors, nurses and assistants.

Compared to previous years, the number of termination has increased by four-fold, he said.

"It used to be around 15 personnel a year," the spokesperson told reporters.

Meanwhile, the government has issued notices to some staffers to explain why they had remained absent for long without taking leave.

Bishnu Rasa Pandit, director-general of DoHS, said the government had adopted a policy of firing the medical professionals who are unwilling to attend to their duties.

"Most of the fired personnel were either working in private clinics or had gone abroad," Pandit said.

"Earlier we were not in a position to fire the technicians and skilled manpower," he said, adding: "We used to keep them on the job hoping that they will bring in new technologies on their return."

"We can produce skilled manpower in the country now," said Pandit.

In order to fill the vacancies, the ministry has invited applications for the post of 20 medical officers, eight public health officers and six health education officers.

A total of 621 health professionals were transferred this year,according to Pandit.

Source: Xinhua