The Punjab government has restricted the authority of government hospital heads from granting leave to doctors for foreign travel, mandating that all such applications must now be approved directly by the chief minister.
According to an official notification issued by the Punjab Health Department, doctors serving in public sector hospitals across the province must submit their foreign leave applications at least one month in advance. The final authority to approve or reject these applications will now rest exclusively with the Chief Minister of Punjab, as per the updated directive.
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The notification clearly states that no medical superintendent (MS), principal, or hospital administrator is authorized to grant or forward such requests without first seeking the necessary approval through the proper administrative channel. The department emphasized that this measure aims to standardize leave protocols and ensure better oversight of the healthcare workforce, especially in critical departments facing staff shortages.
Health department officials indicated that the new policy was prompted by growing concerns over unregulated absences of medical personnel, which often disrupt hospital operations and patient care services. The centralized approval process is intended to enhance transparency and accountability across the provincial healthcare system.
