The Punjab government has announced a new policy regulating summer leave for medical staff across public hospitals, limiting the duration and redefining leave entitlements as a “facility” rather than a right.
According to a notification issued by the Punjab Health Department, medical staff will now be entitled to only three weeks of summer leave, with no provision for encashment of unused leave.
The policy further emphasizes that 67% of clinical faculty and 50% of science faculty must remain on duty at any given time to ensure smooth functioning of healthcare facilities.
“The leave is a facility, not a right,” stated the official letter from the health department.
Leave Management Committees to be formed
To implement and monitor the new policy, Leave Management Committees will be established in every medical institution across Punjab. These committees will be responsible for preparing an annual leave roster, which must be submitted by April 30 each year, according to the notification.
