A handful of GPs accused of misconduct are said to have been paid £850,000 while banned from working.
And another 45 suspended workers at the region's 10 primary care trusts have received £349,996.
The figures, obtained by the Liberal Democrats using Freedom of Information laws, have been branded 'scandalous' and sparked calls for the doctors' disciplinary system to be speeded up.
One GP from the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale area has been suspended for the entire three-year period at a cost of almost £310,000, while bosses await the result of a General Medical Council inquiry. The trust refuses to say why he was suspended.
Another GP in Bury is said to have received £404,000, although today health bosses said the amount - based on their OWN figures - was wrong. They said they were not able to give the real amount.
And Salford PCT paid out £136,000 to suspended GPs over the three years, although it refused to say how many doctors were involved.
The health trusts face further costs hiring replacements while GPs are suspended and pursuing the complaints against them.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These figures are scandalous.
"It is clear that something is going badly wrong with the way that allegations against GPs are being handled. The process of investigating and dealing with complaints is failing badly and must be speeded up urgently. It is a staggering waste of money and unfair on doctors and patients."
Lesley Mort, from Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT said: "This process can be lengthy and seem frustrating for all parties. However, we have a duty to adhere to the regulations associated with payments to a GP during the suspension period.
"We would like to see improvements to the system to speed it up, but understand the suspension of a GP is a necessary process designed to protect patients and the public while the General Medical Council investigates.
"We await the outcome of the GMC hearing and will take appropriate action where necessary."
The figures show 134 GPs across the country have been suspended over the last three years at a total cost of £8.2m.
Dr John Canning, of the British Medical Association, said: "The doctors' disciplinary system can be quite slow. It needs to be just and both sides need time to prepare. But even bearing that in mind, too many cases take too long."
Any doctor banned by their PCT should have their case resolved within six months, except in exceptional circumstances, he said.
The GMC said 94 per cent of its fitness to practise hearings were heard within 15 months. Tweet
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The GMC – doctors investigating doctors – no wonder it takes so long to resolve the matter. For a start off, doctors are exactly that, doctors not investigators. Properly trained investigators should do the investigation to revel the facts. This would make sure all the facts are presented fairly and equally and the ‘old-boys club’ wouldn’t be able to close ranks. The GMC are experts at dragging things out to a point that when the matter does come to a hearing, most people have forgotten what its all about. The doctor gets a nominal sanction and is back at work laughing to his / her self at the patients and the publics expense.
What is it they say ‘Trust me I’m a doctor’ Ha
The problem here is not the fact they are getting paid while suspended (as most employees are on full pay while on suspension) but the length of time it is taking to sort out the disciplinary issues.
But hey M.E.N. don’t let that get in the way of a good headline
This happens in the police as well. One case took over 12 months to reach a conclusion with 2 officers suspended on pay. This is the norm rather than the exception. Funny that police investigate police as well! The "old boys club" & "closing ranks sounds" familiar too. The only thing that will change things is if the investigators were held more accountable to the public. That, however, will only change with the involvement of parliament. So not much chance there then when you see how THEY"feather" their own nests & close ranks when the heats on. The people leading this country are morally corrupt. This sort of thing is rife. Viva la revolucion!!!