SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Sept 23: A medical officer posed at the Naxal-affected Tundi block Community Health Centre (CHC), 30 kilometres from the district headquarters, has landed himself in trouble. He was discovered missing from night duty during a routine civil surgeon check.
The new civil surgeon (CS) of Dhanbad, Dr. Shyam Kishore Kant came for a surprise inspection to Tundi CHC at 9 p.m. on Wednesday and found the doctor on duty, Dr Alimuddin, absent from the hospital. After inspecting for more than one hour, he directed the medical officer-in-charge Dr. Nilam to issue show cause to the concerned doctor.
Tundi CHC in Dhanbad is considered a sensitive hospital due to the place being affected by Naxals. Doctors have refused to stay in the hospital at night for several years fearing the Naxalites. However, for the last two years, doctors have been given night duty.
Patients in Tundi block, especially pregnant women, face problems in absence of doctors at CHC at night. In any case of emergency, a patient has to go to Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) which is 27.3 km away in Dhanbad or to the Giridih Sadar Hospital which is 32.2 km away, for treatment.
CS Shyam Kishore Kant told the media that after getting a series of complaints from people about absence of doctors at night in Tundi CHC, he made this surprise inspection where the said doctor was found absent from his duty. “I was informed that he had gone for dinner but he did not return as long as I stayed there,” said the CS.
Dr. Kant, on checking the labour room register and OPD patient numbers, expressed his resentment over the system of the hospital. Attendants of the admitted patients also complained about lack of proper care by doctors to him.
He has directed to open an additional primary health centre in Tundi for people as per the directive of the Deputy Commissioner.
