Punjab Government Announces New Summer Vacation Policy for Medical Faculty
Lahore, August 1, 2025 – The Department of Specialized Health Care and Medical Education, Punjab has introduced a revised summer vacation policy for teaching faculty at public medical institutions. The new guidelines officially came into effect from August 1, 2025, and aim to strike a balance between academic duties and critical patient care services.
Key Highlights of the Policy
The department emphasized that public health services must operate continuously, especially at tertiary care hospitals affiliated with medical colleges, which serve as vital treatment centers across the province.
Under the new policy:
-
Summer vacation will be limited to three weeks only.
-
The leave period will be deducted from the faculty’s earned leave, highlighting that the vacation is a facility, not a right.
-
The policy is applicable to:
-
Professors
-
Associate Professors
-
Assistant Professors
-
Senior Registrars
-
Demonstrators
-
This directive affects all public sector medical colleges and teaching hospitals throughout Punjab.
Maintaining Clinical and Academic Balance
To ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, a minimum of 67% clinical faculty and 50% basic sciences faculty must remain available during the vacation period. This staffing requirement will help hospitals continue delivering patient care without compromise.
Each institution is instructed to form a Leave Management Committee, comprising:
-
Principal
-
CEO/COO/MD
-
Medical Superintendent
-
Senior Head of Department
These committees must finalize and submit their summer leave rosters by April 30 every year for approval by the department.
A Step Toward Healthcare Excellence
The new summer leave policy reflects the Punjab government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery without undermining the academic progress of medical faculty. By ensuring adequate staff presence during vacations, the policy aims to improve service efficiency and patient care standards in the province’s healthcare system.
