The Punjab Health Department has introduced new guidelines for approving leave of medical staff serving in teaching hospitals and healthcare institutions across the province.
Under the revised policy, hospital administrations can now grant leave of up to 89 days only to employees up to Grade 17. The authority to approve leave for senior doctors — from Senior Registrars to Professors — has been withdrawn from hospitals and transferred to the Punjab Health Department.
Likewise, General Cadre doctors in Grades 18 to 20 will now need leave approval directly from the provincial health department instead of hospital management.
However, hospital administrations will still be allowed to approve maternity leave and iddat (widowhood) leave for female doctors and staff members.
Previously, heads of hospitals had the authority to sanction up to 89 days of leave for all doctors and government employees. Under the new rules, these powers have been centralized at the provincial level.
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