The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has directed all government health institutions and hospitals across the country to ensure 100 percent attendance of officers and employees.

It has also directed the introduction of biometric face recognition technology to ensure 100 percent attendance of doctors and health workers.

The directives were issued in a letter from the DGHS on Thursday.

The letter said that the decisions were taken at a meeting held at the conference room of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on August 16 to review progress on the directives given during the Prime Minister's inspection of the Health Services Division.

The directive, signed by DGHS Director (Administration) Professor Dr Jalal Uddin Mohammad Rumi, said biometric machines installed at all health institutions and hospitals under the DGHS must be kept operational and functional.

 Alongside ensuring regular biometric attendance of officers and employees, biometric face recognition technology should also be introduced in phases.

The directive placed special emphasis on ensuring 100 percent attendance of doctors and health workers at their workplaces.

The drawing and disbursing officers of the respective health institutions have been asked to ensure attendance before processing salary bills of doctors and health workers.

It further said that if any doctor or health worker remains absent from the workplace, the person's salary bill cannot be paid until the absence issue is resolved.

Besides, all health service institutions and hospitals under the DGHS have been asked to send weekly reports on the e-attendance of officers and employees to the DGHS Director (Administration).