MANISH RAJ
Deoghar, April 15: 19 injured tourists from the Trikut ropeway tragedy had to undergo X-rays and CT scan tests at the Deoghar Sadar Hospital. This was made possible by the Health Map Diagnostic Centre, located on the ground floor of the hospital which runs in a PPP model.
Patients are required to pay a subsidized rate at this centre that is normally significantly lower than the typical charge because it is operated on the PPP model. However, none of the injured individuals had to pay the fee this time.
The centre in-charge Jagdish Kumar recounted receiving a call from ACMO Dr Yugal Choudhry on Sunday, April 10 (the day of the accident), asking him to give service without fail and without being late. Even though Jagdish was on a leave, he urged his staff to follow the hospital’s management requirements at the time. X-rays and CT scans were required at least 24 times, costing a total of Rs.15,000.
When lagatar24.com inquired regarding bill reimbursement, Jagdish smiled and then responded, “Let it pass.” Upon request, he got ready to reveal. Amid the chaos, he stated, it was impossible to obtain formal instructions from hospital administration, but the ACMO had assured him of reimbursement.
Jagdish said that ACMO Dr. Yugal Choudhary said that the payment would be made from the hospital’s official fund, and if that did not happen, he would pay out of his own pocket.
The Health Map Diagnostic Center has been operating in the hospital Since October 2017. On a daily basis, hundreds of patients get X-ray and CT scan examinations. The two rooms assigned to Health Map Diagnostic Center were not properly maintained at the time of allotment. There have been concerns with seepage and dampness in the main room where the machines have been installed. Toilets and facilities are located directly just above the two designated rooms in the centre.
The centre had to deal with a difficult scenario during the rainy season for several years, as the rooms were filled with sewage water with a strong odour. Later, the building was repaired by the construction agency because the same issues were present in other parts of the structure.
Although the problem of water-logging has been resolved, seepage and dampness continue to be a problem. The in-charge has brought the attention of higher officials of the hospital several times verbally and seven times in writing, but no one has reacted.
According to the in charge, he had been begging the management to either fix the problem or obtain permission to relocate the centre elsewhere. He even offered to move into the empty and abandoned rooms meant for toilets.
This time, the centre is up against a different difficulty because its reporting procedure has been linked to its central office’s server based in New Delhi. If the seepage problem is not addressed quickly and a breakdown occurs, the entire system will collapse and it will take a long time to restore.
Dr Prabhat Ranjan, the hospital’s deputy superintendent, said to lagatar24.com that the situation facing the centre will be addressed. He stated that he had already informed the civil surgeon of the situation.
According to the deputy superintendent, the building’s contractor will be allowed to fix the problems after which the matter will be dealt with differently. Dr Prabhat Ranjan also stated that a complaint will be filed against the contractor regarding the issues.
