SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 16: Resentment prevails among senior teachers and doctors of Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad after the superintendent marked ‘absent’ in the attendance register against the name of the orthopedic head of the department, Dr. DP Bhushan.
The senior doctors and teachers of the medical college informed that Dr. Bhushan is one of the senior-most faculty members. He was already in the hospital and attending a meeting. They said that before marking him absent, the superintendent should have talked with him. Dr. Bhushan is the president of the medical college teachers association as well.
Hospital superintendent Dr AK Barnwal during routine checkup of hospital wards on Monday found Dr Bhushan absent from the OPD. When no one gave any information about Dr Bhushan, he marked him ‘absent’ in the attendance register.
Dr Barnwal told the media that the patients, who come from remote villages, have to face hardship due to the absence of doctors. After getting the complaint, he checked the OPD and took action for streamlining services. OPD service at SNMMCH runs from 9 am to 1 pm in the first shift.
When Dr. DP Bhushan was contacted, he said that he was already in the hospital but had not made his attendance in the register. So, he was found absent. “In fact, I was attending a meeting over the oxygen pipeline matter. So, I will inform the superintendent about the fact,” said Dr Bhushan.
However, senior doctors and teachers have strongly protested the absent marking of a head of the department.
“This is the first time in 51 years of the medical college when a superintendent has marked a head of the department as absent. The superintendent is an associate professor but Dr Bhushan is a professor. He should have also considered the seniority of Dr Bhushan. So, the teachers association will hold a meeting to discuss the matter after briefing the principal,” said one of the senior doctors.
