Nashik: Medical officers from across the state expressed concerns over the use of face-biometric technology through a mobile application, which will be used for marking attendance from April 1. They said govt should first ensure appropriate manpower and facilities so they can work within designated duty hours.
The biometric face recognition app, which includes geo-fencing, will ensure the check-in and check-out of health workers, ranging from auxiliary nurse midwives to medical officers. It will replace the thumb-biometric system that is currently in use.
“Doctors in remote areas of the state, where there are no duty relievers, have to work 24 hours. If govt wants to bind us to eight-hour duty shifts, then we want govt to ensure we have three medical officers at the PHCs, where each one will take up the assigned duty and happily go home after the duty period,” said Anant Gaikwad, the district unit president of the Maharashtra State Association of Gazetted Medical Officers (MAGMO).
The medical officers pointed out that govt needs to consider the flexible timings of doctors where there are no relievers or supportive staff at the PHC or even the rural hospitals.
“Today, the PHC needs at least three doctors, and a rural hospital needs around seven to eight doctors with experts as well, but there are only two or three officers. The shortage of manpower forces the officers to work beyond humanly possible timings, without a break. We hope govt considers the situation as well,” said Dr Prakash Patil, a member of the Association of Medical Officers, another statewide organisation.
Following govt’s decision, the thumb biometric devices in the offices are now being removed, and the staff is being trained to use the mobile application. They have to download the application on their mobile devices. The app only responds when the person is within a 100-meter radius of their designated office.
