SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 29: The psychiatric wing in state Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College (SNMMCH) has been shut down as lone doctor of the department Dr Shilpi Kumari’s three years tenure completed on June 27.
Kumari had joined SNMMCH as senior resident in the psychiatric department in 2019. After completion of her tenure on June 27, she was relieved from her responsibility. As per guidelines of state government no senior resident / tutor could be continued after completion of three years.
Since Psychiatric OPD has been completely shut down due to absence of doctor, the patients had to return unattended from hospital on June 28 and June 29 due to lack of information.
I had come from Sarra village of Tundi block to the hospital (medical college) to get my son’s proper check up but the hospital staff did not provide us any token no. for OPD”, said Malti Majian.
SNMMCH superintendent Dr AK Barnbal told media persons that following completion of senior resident’s three years tenure, crisis has appeared in Psychiatric department.
“State headquarters have been informed about it and alternative arrangement are being made to run the OPD”, he said.
Hospital official sources said per day on an average 40 to 50 patients registrations are done at the counter for Psychiatric OPD. Number of patients has increased after the pandemic.
With the absence of psychiatrist at SNMMCH, the patients of Dhanbad, Giridih and Bokaro district would have to go to RINPAS inRanchi even for minor complication as no government psychiatrist is present in the region.
BGH Bokaro has facilities but the hospital attends only steel plant’s officer and employees.
The crisis of doctor in psychiatric department of SNMMCH is perennial problem since 2008 after lone doctor of the department associate professor Dr Choudhary Laxmi Narayan opted Bihar cadre and joined AN Magadh Medical College in Gaya.
Following the pressure of patients and de-recognition threat of the then Medical Council of India (MCI), state government in 2016 put Dr Sanjay Kumar (posted at health centre in Tundi block of Dhanbad) on deputation at Patliputra Medical College Hospital (now SNMMCH).
However in 2019, Psychiatric department of SNMMCH has again been shut down as government has cancelled deputation of its doctors of health department and sent them to their original place.
