The Andhra Pradesh government have removed 51 doctors of teaching hospitals under the purview of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) from services for remaining absent from duty for long, Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav said on Wednesday.

An official release issued by the Health Department said that the removed doctors included 41 Assistant Professors, eight Associate Professors and two tutors.

The action against the doctors was taken in accordance with the rules stipulated in the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, the Minister said.

Those who remain absent from duty for a long time are understood as having resigned, the Minister said.

The government issued show-cause notices to the doctors and the latter were given a chance to explain themselves, the Minister said, adding that no response was received from the doctors in question.

Warning of stern action against medical staff for derelecting their duties, the Minister said the erring doctors were reportedly engaged in other businesses.

According to the release, most of the Assistant Professors who faced action are from the medical colleges in Kadapa, Anantapur, Ongole, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Rajamahendravaram, Eluru, Nellore, and Markapur.

Of the eight Associate Professors who were removed, one of them is from Andhra Medical College, who has been absent since February 7, 2020. Of the two tutors, one has remained absent for seven years.

The department has also taken action against five Professors who have remained absent for long. While two of them have resumed duties after receiving the notices, the rest are yet to respond, the Minister said.

Meanwhile, there are 44 more teaching staffers in colleges who have remained absent for less than a year. For those who remained absent less than a year, memos have been issued.