The civil surgeon of Bokaro has read the riot act to government doctors and health employees, stressing on regular attendance to tackle patient rush in this rainy season and warning that absenteeism may invite stringent action including immediate suspension.

Dr J.C. Das convened a meeting on Tuesday with representatives of various state-run health establishments following reports of monsoon maladies like diarrhoea, malaria and typhoid plaguing the rural belt of the district comprising Gomia, Nawadih, Petarwar, Kasmar Chandrapura, Bermo and Chas blocks.

"Be punctual. Don't keep patients waiting in hospital OPDs and health centres. Habitual absenteeism will also be dealt with strictly. Recommendation of suspension will be referred to the deputy commissioner without delay," Das is learnt to have said, promising to conduct surprise raids to keep truancy among doctors under total check.

After the monsoon hit the state last month, medical task forces at the block level were formed to keep eye on functioning of primary health centres. Recently, the civil surgeon also floated a district-level task force to monitor the block teams.

The responsibility of these teams range from ensuring adequate stock of medicines at every health centre and government hospital to reaching bleaching powder, DDT, et al, to rural pockets suffering from the sting menace.

"We have already disinfected wells while DDT is being sprayed in water bodies. Our task forces have standing orders to visit door-to-door for detection of malaria cases in villages," Das said.

During Tuesday's meeting, the civil surgeon directed doctors to keep his office updated on medicine stocks at health centres and hospitals. "Shortage of saline or paracetamol tablets cannot be allowed at any health establishment. Stocks must be continuously updated and upgrades, if necessary, bought from outside with permission. Patients must not suffer because we are ill-equipped," he said at the meeting.

Gomia MLA Yogendra Mahto, in a letter to deputy commissioner Manoj Kumar in the first week of July, had alleged that many doctors posted at health centres avoided regular duty and preferred private practice. Kumar said he had directed the civil surgeon's office to remain vigilant to curb this habit too.