Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 11: Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings Department, Choudhary Lal Singh today suspended a Block Medical Officer and attached other four officials of the Health Department for administrative lapses, violation of dress code and dereliction of duty.
The disciplinary action against the health officials was taken after the Minister, during early morning surprise visit to District Hospital Samba, Community Health Centre R. S. Pura, Accidental Hospital Ramgarh, Sub-District Hospital Basohli, found lapses on the part of hospital management in making adequate medicare facilities available to attend the emergency cases and indoor patients.
During the visit to CHC Ramgarh at 3.25 a.m., Choudhary Lal Singh found that the hospital was plunged into darkness without any power backup, despite the availability of Gen Set. He also noted with concern that a sick patient in state of Asthmatics is waiting in agony. The staff on duty informed that there was no POL in Gen Set for emergency. Moreover exchange of duties was observed as the names of both on duty medical officers were missing on the roaster. Similarly the driver on duty also did not figure in the duty roaster.
In view of these administrative lapses, the Minister ordered suspension of Dr. Balkari Lal, Block Medical Officer, Ramgarh with immediate effect and attachment with Chief Medical Officer Kishtwar pending inquiry.
Earlier, during his visit to District Hospital Samba at 2.20 a.m. Choudhary Lal Singh found that medicos and paramedics were not attending the patients in wards and were taking rest in the hospital. He also noted that most of the staff members were without proper dress.
On this, the Minister asked the Health Department authorities to transfer Vikas Sharma, Dresser, Rohit MMPHW, Nitin Baloeria and Sushil Sharma Nursing Orderlies to the office of Chief Medical Officer, Poonch for further duties.
At SDH Basohli, the Minister directed the higher authorities to serve notice to Dr. Amit Badgal, of Jandi Colony, Hiranagar, Kathua to resume duty at CHC Basholi with immediate effect otherwise action as warranted under rule will be initiated against him.
Later, the Health Minister again visited CHC Ramgarh at 2 p m in afternoon and talked to the patients and local people. The people complained that most of the pregnancies and other patients were being referred to Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu due to the non-availability of sufficient doctors in the CHC.
Ch Lal Singh clarified to the people that there is no shortage of doctors and paramedics in the hospital. He asked the Health Department authorities to pay surprise visits to the hospital on regular intervals to monitor its functioning.
The Minister issued instructions to the hospital functionaries to avoid referral of delivery and other normal cases as the hospital is well equipped to handle these. He said all the hospitals in the rural pockets and remote areas have been equipped with required infrastructural facilities with adequate staff and medicines.
Choudhary Lal Singh said that the Government has taken several innovative steps in last about three months to revive health sector in State. He said deployment of the staff in remote areas and procuring ALSS (Advanced Life Support System) ambulances was the first step in this direction.
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