Jajarkot, May 4

A health worker of District Hospital, Jajarkot, is out of contact for the past 11 years. Dhaniklal Yadav, however, is still occupying the post of health assistant at the hospital though he went out of contact in 2008.

Health Service Act has a provision that if an employee remains absent on duty for more than 90 days without information, the department chief can remove him/her from the post. Yadav’s case has made a mockery of the legal provision and prevailing laws.

According to a hospital source, repeated written requests to the higher-ups for action had fallen on deaf ears. Dasarath Lamichhane, first class non-gazetted officer at the hospital, said notice was sent to Yadav’s home asking him to report to duty. Yadav has not been paid for the period he has remained absent.

Reportedly Yadav has been running a health clinic at Sarlahi’s Lahan. He is suspected of holding the job to receive facilities such as pension.

Hospital Chief Dr Kesharjung Karki said he had written to the Department of Health to take action against Yadav, but to no avail. Karki said that absence of health worker at Yadav’s place had affected service at the hospital.