VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: A day after setting rot right in the Super Specialty Hospital here by enforcing accountability among senior doctors, Health Minister Bali Bhagat on Saturday cracked down at Sub District Hospital R S Pura and placed the Block Medical Officer Mohinder Singh Azad under suspension for poor show in terms of management and sanitation conditions.
The action came in the wake of retrieving Rs 90 lakh endoscopy machine, hidden in the room of Lecturer in Gastroenterology Dr Shoket Choudhry in an alleged bid of depriving patients of the much needed facility and forcing them to seek diagnostic tests conducted in favourite private labs.
Without fanfare and by ending the nightmarish era of bro-beating and humiliating doctors, a perturbing phenomenon a few months ago, the new Heath Minister took action in a subtle manner and attached the Block Medical Officer (BMO) in the office of Director Health Services with immediate effect.
Incidentally, the BMO was in the centre of controversy for having been posted as the Block Medical officer, not only despite being junior to many and a Dental Surgeon (who are not
normally posted to
administrative assignments) but his proximity to the then Health Minister Ch Lal Singh. His posting had created ripples in the medical fraternity and the resentment among doctors kept simmering for quite a time.
During his surprise visit to the hospital, the minister found the poor sanitation conditions in the wards and premises of the hospital, despite of the directions of the higher authorities for undertaking a special sanitation drive in all the health institutions across the State, and expressed anguish over the situation.
He immediately spoke to the Director Health Services and issued instructions for implementing the directions for ensuring proper cleanliness in and around the hospital, besides improving the medicare facilities for the patients.
The minister also took round of the emergency ward, general wards, Drug Store and inspected the functioning of the hospital. He issued directions to immediately replace the torn out mattresses and bed sheets and ensuring the complete face-lift of the premises. He also interacted with the patients and their attendants to enquire about the facilities available in the hospital.