While leave of absence from duty affects employee productivity, doctors say they are becoming “sick with requests” to sign certificates for leave.
The number of so-called patients approaching hospitals witnesses a spike during weekends or after public holidays.
“A good percentage of youth who comes to hospital complains of mild pain or illness. Although they do not need any treatment, they pretend to be weak and ask for a certificate to avail of leave,” says a doctor at a health centre.
Sick leave is granted to an employee in case of sudden illness, which, however, must be proved by producing a medical certificate.
In some cases, doctors claim the youth are upset if their requests are turned down.
Medicos in private clinics or hospitals face greater pressure to issue sick leave, although they know it is against the rules.
“Very often, they come with some old clinical reports to claim they are still suffering from the same disease. When we try to reason with them, they even shout at us,” said a senior doctor at a leading hospital in Ruwi.
Some doctors have gone to the extent of sticking to the ministry’s guidelines in the consulting rooms to drive home the reason for refusal of requests for sick leave.
To stamp out the practice of unnecessary absence, the government has issued strictures to local hospitals and clinics not to issue sick leave to patients who don’t really need them. Still, many employees go off work and later manage a doctor’s certificate.
“The phenomena of unnecessary absence is difficult to control because the government cannot prove someone wasn’t sick,” said the doctor at a health centre who did not want to be identified.
Omani Civil Law states that a sick employee is entitled to leave which is determined by a competent medical authority.
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