LAHORE: A Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department’s June 27 notification wherein it had accepted resignations of 48 doctors in one go went viral on social media on Sunday.

Social media and later electronic media started flashing the notification, terming it a mass resignation against the policies of the health department.

When contacted, Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department Secretary Nabeel Awan said these were routine resignations by doctors during the last five-and-a-half months and were accepted through a one notification with effect from the dates mentioned against applicant’s names.

Mr Awan said about one third of these doctors had resigned to join some other posts in the department or joined postgraduate training.

Answering a question, the health department secretary said some doctors had resigned citing personal reasons and he would not rule out the possibility that someone had resigned to run away from the Covid-19 duties.

“There are desertions in tough times even from the most disciplined and trained armies,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2020