Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has served notices to 30 government doctors across the state for professional negligence and absenteeism.

Based on reports of absenteeism of doctors for the past several years as provided by DMER, services of the doctors in question may most likely be terminated as they were found contravening the law of the land. The doctors in question were appointed in government medical colleges at Yavatmal, Aurangabad, Mumbai Nanded, Pune and Miraj. According to official sources, they were appointed on positions like assistant professor, associate professor and professor and have been absent for the past several years without any valid reason.

There were some government doctors who have not attended the colleges for as long as 7 to 12 years. In a unique case of JJ Hospital in Mumbai, a doctor has been absent for as long as 23 years and his service is likely to be terminated, according to a DMER official.

DMER supervises the working of 42 institutions including medical and dental colleges, teaching hospitals and health units under its purview in order to achieve optimum academic standards and promotion of research in the institutions. Despite existing financial constraints, efforts are made to provide maximum facilities required for students' education (under graduate, post graduate, super specialities), hospital services and research.

It also controls and regulates the administration of 11 government medical colleges and hospitals along with urban and rural Health centres attached to them. It also regulates 3 government dental colleges and hospitals. The Directorate supervises the medical education i.e. under graduate, post graduate and super specialisation. It also co-ordinates the research activities in fundamental research, applied research and operational research in the institutions under its control and through out-reach services. This enables the government to improve health status of the people in the society.

The director is the head of the department and is assisted by the joint directors. The superintendent of nursing services is in charge of nursing education and works under the director. The director medical education and research is the competent authority for common entrance test for admission to health science courses (MH-CET).