Government set to track doctors' attendance with phone app

The National Health Mission (NHM) authorities have decided to track the real-time location of doctors serving at government health facilities in the state with the help of a mobile phone application.

The Mission Director (NHM), Haryana, recently shot off a communique to the Civil Surgeons of all districts for the implementation of the 'Geo-Fenced Mobile Attendance System' for healthcare staff.

"The attendance system will be implemented across all health facilities in Haryana in line with the directions of the Chief Minister to improve the delivery of healthcare services," the communique said.

Initially, the system would be applicable to all categories of doctors, including regular cadre doctors (Senior Medical Officers, Medical Officers, dental surgeons), specialists, Medical Officers, Ayush Medical Officers and Community Health Officers engaged in various programmes and schemes under the NHM umbrella.

The doctors, however, have decried the tracking-based system, terming it an invasion of their privacy and violation of their fundamental rights. The Haryana Civil Medical Services Association has submitted a representation, seeking withdrawal of the move.

"The system mandates the installation of a mobile application on the personal devices of doctors to track their location. This constitutes a breach of privacy, which is a fundamental right as upheld by the Supreme Court," said the association.

"The association has categorically stated that the HCMS doctors would not install the application on their personal phones," said Dr Vishvjeet Rathi, president of the Rohtak district unit of the association.

The association has also sought a meeting with the Mission Director in this regard.