Odisha CM orders action against 128 absent doctors, one dismissed
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has launched a sweeping crackdown on ghost-posting in the state's public health system — ordering disciplinary proceedings against 128 doctors absent for over five years, and dismissing one officer who reportedly vanished from duty in 2012. The move lays bare a chronic accountability gap in a state already struggling with a rural doctor shortage.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered disciplinary action against 128 Medical Officers and Dental Surgeons absent from government duty for over five years .
Notices were published in newspapers seeking their status; all reportedly failed to respond or return.
Bichakshana Panigrahi , former Medical Officer of Kandhamal Police Hospital , has been dismissed after reportedly remaining absent since 2012 .
The crackdown comes amid an acute shortage of medical professionals in Odisha, especially in rural and remote areas.
CM Majhi stated that absenteeism after appointment 'will not be accepted under any circumstances' as the state expands hospitals and medical colleges.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed the state Health and Family Welfare Department to initiate disciplinary proceedings against 128 Medical Officers and Dental Surgeons who have remained unauthorisedly absent from government healthcare institutions for more than five years, according to an official statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The crackdown, announced on 18 June, comes amid an acute shortage of medical professionals in Odisha's public health system, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Scale of the Absenteeism
The CMO confirmed that 128 government-appointed medical professionals — spanning both Medical Officers and Dental Surgeons — have been absent from their posts across various state-run healthcare facilities for over five years. Notices were published in newspapers seeking information on their whereabouts and status, but the individuals reportedly failed to respond or return to duty. The Chief Minister has now ordered formal disciplinary proceedings against all of them.
Doctor Dismissed for Absence Since 2012
In a separate and more severe action, Chief Minister Majhi ordered the dismissal of Bichakshana Panigrahi, former Medical Officer of the Kandhamal Police Hospital, from government service. According to the CMO, Panigrahi has reportedly remained unauthorisedly absent since 2012 — a period of over 13 years. Despite repeated notices and departmental instructions to explain her absence and rejoin duty, she failed to comply. The government cited her continued neglect of professional responsibilities and patient care as the basis for her removal.
What the Chief Minister Said
Chief Minister Majhi stressed that accountability is non-negotiable in the state's healthcare delivery system. 'The state government is giving priority to healthcare services by opening new hospitals, modernising existing healthcare facilities, and establishing new medical colleges for medical education. However, many doctors remain absent from duty even after receiving appointments. This will not be accepted under any circumstances,' he said. Majhi underscored that while the government is actively expanding healthcare infrastructure and medical education, absenteeism by appointed doctors directly undermines those efforts.
Why This Matters
Odisha's public healthcare network continues to grapple with a significant shortage of medical personnel, a problem that is most acute in tribal, rural, and remote regions. Prolonged absenteeism by appointed doctors effectively compounds this crisis, leaving existing staff overburdened and patients underserved. Notably, this is not the first time the state has flagged ghost-posting concerns — but the scale of simultaneous action against 128 professionals marks a notably firm institutional response. This comes amid the Majhi government's broader push to modernise healthcare delivery and expand medical college capacity across the state.
What Happens Next
The Health and Family Welfare Department is expected to formally serve disciplinary notices and initiate proceedings under applicable service rules. The outcome of these proceedings could range from suspension to outright dismissal, depending on individual circumstances. The government's move is likely to set a precedent for accountability enforcement across other departments as well.
Point of View
One dismissed after 13 years of no-show — points to a systemic failure in HR oversight within Odisha's health bureaucracy, not a one-off lapse. The real question is why it took this long: if newspaper notices were the primary mechanism for locating serving government doctors, the department's internal monitoring was clearly non-functional. Majhi's crackdown is politically useful framing ahead of infrastructure announcements, but durable accountability requires institutional reform — not just periodic purges. Without a real-time attendance and deployment audit system, the next batch of absentees will simply accumulate quietly until the next political moment demands action.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Odisha taking action against 128 doctors?
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered disciplinary proceedings against 128 Medical Officers and Dental Surgeons who have remained unauthorisedly absent from government healthcare institutions for more than five years. The action follows newspaper notices that went unanswered, and is aimed at addressing chronic absenteeism that has worsened the state's existing doctor shortage.
Who is Bichakshana Panigrahi and why was she dismissed?
Bichakshana Panigrahi was a Medical Officer posted at the Kandhamal Police Hospital in Odisha. She has reportedly remained unauthorisedly absent since 2012 and, despite repeated departmental notices to explain her absence and rejoin duty, failed to comply — leading CM Majhi to order her dismissal from government service.
How does this absenteeism affect patients in Odisha?
Prolonged absenteeism by appointed government doctors directly worsens Odisha's existing shortage of medical professionals, particularly in rural and remote areas. It leaves remaining staff overburdened and reduces access to care for patients in underserved regions.
What disciplinary action will the 128 doctors face?
The Health and Family Welfare Department has been directed to initiate formal disciplinary proceedings against all 128 absentee medical professionals. Outcomes under applicable service rules could range from suspension to dismissal, depending on individual cases.
What is the Odisha government doing to improve healthcare infrastructure?
CM Majhi stated that the state is opening new hospitals, modernising existing healthcare facilities, and establishing new medical colleges. However, he stressed that expanding infrastructure is undermined when appointed doctors remain absent from duty, making accountability enforcement a parallel priority.
