Starting April 1, 2025, the Maharashtra Public Health Department has made biometric attendance mandatory for all medical officers and hospital staff in government medical colleges and hospitals. This decision aims to improve accountability, ensure staff availability, and enhance patient care.
Why Is Biometric Attendance Being Implemented?
The government has received several complaints about doctors and healthcare workers not being present during their duty hours. Despite having a biometric system in place, many staff members have not registered on the official portal.
Other reasons for this decision include:
- Absenteeism among doctors and hospital staff.
- Shortage of healthcare professionals, especially in rural areas.
- Heavy patient loads, make timely medical care critical.
- Government doctors engage in private practice during duty hours.
To tackle these issues, the government has introduced strict measures, ensuring that salaries will only be paid based on biometric attendance records.
What Healthcare Workers Need to Do
🔹 All medical officers and staff must register for biometric attendance by March 31, 2025, on the official portal.
🔹 Salary payments will be processed only if biometric attendance is recorded.
🔹 An online training workshop on the biometric and face-reading system was held on March 7, 2025, to guide staff on using the system.
🔹 Non-compliance will result in strict action, and any salary paid without biometric proof will be recovered from the responsible officers.
Benefits of Biometric Attendance
✅ Ensures doctors and staff are present during working hours.
✅ Reduces patient suffering due to the absence of healthcare workers.
✅ Improves efficiency in government hospitals and medical colleges.
✅ Increases transparency and prevents misuse of government resources.
✅ Helps improve healthcare services in rural and tribal areas.
Concerns Raised by Healthcare Staff
While many welcome the move, some doctors and healthcare workers are opposing it. Their concerns include:
- Workload issues: Doctors in rural hospitals often work longer than the standard eight-hour shift due to a shortage of medical professionals.
- Staff shortage: There are not enough doctors to ensure round-the-clock presence at primary health centers and rural hospitals.
- Legal concerns: Some doctors claim that the new system violates Supreme Court directives on working hours, demanding that the government hire more doctors instead of enforcing strict biometric rules.
Final Thoughts
The introduction of biometric attendance for healthcare staff in Maharashtra is a significant step toward better patient care, transparency, and accountability. While it ensures that doctors and medical staff are available when needed, the concerns raised by overworked healthcare professionals must also be addressed.
🔹 If you’re a healthcare professional in Maharashtra, make sure to complete your biometric registration by March 31, 2025.
To register for our next masterclass please click here https://linktr.ee/docpreneur
