M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Sept 13: At least 25 doctors of the Sadar Hospital Garhwa have raised a banner of revolt against the deputy superintendent (DS) Dr Awadesh Singh.
In a signed letter, dated September 12, addressed to Dr Awadesh Singh, the 25 doctors have texted their rebellion for bringing in regularity in duty, commitment to serve ailing people etc.
The petition begins with a shortage of IV fluids, bed sheets, medicines and charges the deputy superintendent with indifference and apathy towards the doctors of the hospital, not responding to their phone calls, asking doctors in trouble to manage the situation themselves and advising them to dial 100 for help in distress while facing hostile attendants of the patients, denying leave to the doctors, improper addressing of the doctors by the deputy superintendent and other issues.
The signatories have made a verbal attack asking DS Dr Awadesh Singh to also work as a medical officer in the Sadar Hospital, discharging duties by attending the outpatient department of orthopaedic and not to push off in the evening from Garhwa to Palamu. Notably, Dr Awadesh Singh is the lone Ortho surgeon in the hospital.
The doctors also alleged that the DS often reminds them of bringing in the ‘Palamu model’ in the Garhwa Sadar Hospital, contending that this hospital has already been a recipient of appreciation for being a well-managed hospital in the past.
The copies of the letter have also been sent to the Garhwa civil surgeon, Palamu regional deputy director of health, Minister of drinking water and sanitation department and local JMM MLA Mithilesh Thakur, health secretary and Palamu MP (copy of this letter with lagatar24.com).
These signatories have very calculatedly not marked their copy to the DC Garhwa Ramesh Gholap knowing full well that Gholap knows all about the functioning of the sadar hospital and their rebellion may be seen or termed as diversionary or arms twisting tactics on the part of the signatory doctors.
Sources said the state health department is set to look into this unseemly episode where 25 doctors are at loggerheads with the deputy superintendent, sparing the civil surgeon Garhwa completely.
A senior doctor of the Sadar hospital told this correspondent, “I am not a signatory to this petition of the 25 doctors.” This doctor refused to make any further explanation.
Another conspicuous absence of the signature on this petition is of the recently substituted civil surgeon Dr Kamlesh Kumar.
Interestingly, there is quite a good number of doctors of Palamu who have been transferred to Garhwa Sadar Hospital from MMCH Daltonganj. However, they have signed against the deputy superintendent with whom they had pulled along well at MMCH and now that these doctors are in Garhwa, their tone has become rebellious, said another doctor.
One lady signatory conceded that she had her signature on this petition but wishes things to be sorted out fast before it gets murkier.
At the end of their signed petition, these 25 doctors opened their cards by announcing to tender mass resignation in the event of their complaints were not addressed.
The deputy superintendent on being contacted said “This is just a ploy of the doctors to have their own whimsical way of doing duty in the hospital as, under the order of the Garhwa DC Ramesh Gholap, we are trying to ensure doctors sit and examine patients in the hospital during the hours they are mandated to do this.”
“The attitude of the doctors here is ‘bad’ and quick to confront with all for having a safe time for them, away from the duties in the Sadar hospital,” he added.
On him becoming DS, Dr Singh said, “This is by the order of the DC.”
Earlier, Dr Sandhya Topno was looking after the works of the DS here before she went on leave for her daughter’s marriage. Meanwhile, Dr Awadesh Singh was asked by the DC to act as DS.
Dr Anil Kumar, who is the additional chief medical officer of Palamu and holds additional charge of the Garhwa civil surgeon, in response to a query said, “We are determined to improve our services. Everyone is expected to contribute to the betterment. It is public knowledge that doctors cry when their clinic time that they spend there leaving duty in the hospital, is hammered and contained.”
“Recently, a full-term pregnant woman was tempted to get treatment outside the Garhwa Sadar Hospital but was retained by us and had a normal delivery. Had this woman gone out, she would have to spend around Rs 30,000 in the private nursing home here,” he added.
According to sources, around 50 fake nursing homes or hospitals in Garhwa district have brought their shutters down following a crackdown against them by the civil surgeon and his team.
