The Punjab Health Department has issued new rules regarding the approval of leave for medical staff working in teaching hospitals and health institutions across the province.
Under the new directives, teaching hospitals are now authorized to approve leave of up to 89 days only for employees up to Grade 17.
The authority to approve leave for senior doctors, from Senior Registrars to Professors, has been withdrawn from hospital administrations and transferred to the Punjab Health Department.
Similarly, the approval of leave for General Cadre doctors in Grades 18 to 20 will now require approval from the Punjab Health Department rather than hospital management.
However, hospital administrations will continue to have the authority to approve maternity leave and iddat (widowhood) leave for female doctors and staff.
Previously, hospital heads had the power to approve leave of up to 89 days for all doctors and government employees. Under the new policy, these powers have now been shifted to the provincial level.