Punjab Limits Summer Breaks for Medical Faculty to Safeguard Patient Care
In a move aimed at balancing healthcare delivery with academic duties, Punjab’s Department of Specialized Health Care and Medical Education has issued a fresh policy curbing summer vacations for faculty in medical institutions.
Effective from August 1, 2025, the policy introduces a tightly regulated leave structure for teaching staff in all government medical colleges and their affiliated teaching hospitals across the province.
Shorter Breaks, Tighter Rules
Under the new rules, faculty will be allowed just three weeks of summer vacation—far shorter than traditional breaks—and that time off will be deducted from their earned leave, not granted separately. The government has clarified that this leave is a concession, not a right.
The decision comes amid concerns that long academic vacations were beginning to compromise patient care, especially in tertiary care hospitals that also serve as key treatment centers for the public.
Who’s Affected?
The policy targets all tiers of teaching staff, including Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Senior Registrars, and Demonstrators. It mandates that essential clinical services must not be interrupted during the vacation period.
To ensure this, hospitals must retain a significant portion of their workforce on-site: at least 67% of clinical faculty and 50% of basic sciences faculty must stay on duty throughout the rotation period.
Leave to Be Managed Internally
Each medical institution is now responsible for setting up a Leave Management Committee. This panel—comprising senior administrative and clinical leaders like the Principal, CEO/COO/MD, Medical Superintendent, and the senior-most Head of Department—will oversee how leave is scheduled and ensure uninterrupted patient care.
By tightening vacation allowances, the Punjab government is clearly signaling its intent to prioritize healthcare delivery, even as it continues to support the academic obligations of its medical faculty.
