SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 23: The Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA) has strongly protested the assault on the Topchachi Community Health Centre (CHC) Dhanbad medical officer-in-charge Dr Sweta Gunjan by the District Board chairman and requested the chief minister Hemant Soren and health minister Banna Gupta for taking action against the assaulter.
JHSA state secretary Dr Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh in a letter to the chief minister and health minister has said it is a matter of concern that District Board chairman Sabitri Devi first assaulted the medical officer-in-charge in the hospital and at the same time she also lodged a complaint against Dr Sweta Gunjan to the civil surgeon for not behaving as per protocol.
The resentment has also prevailed among medical officers of the district after the Topchachi CHC incident.
District Board chairman Sabitri Devi without giving prior information to the Topchachi CHC authorities, inspected the hospital on June 16 and alleged that the doctor did not behave with her as per protocol.
She lodged a complaint to the civil surgeon (CS) demanding an apology from the doctor for not giving honour as per protocol. However, Dr Sweta Kumari rejected the allegation and said that since she did nothing there is no question of tendering an apology.
CS Dr Alok Vishwakarma has set up a three-member committee of senior medical officers Dr Manish Kumar, Dr Sunil Kumar and Dr Madhu Das to probe the incident.
“ The JHSA has urged the chief minister and health minister to take serious note of this incident so that the doctors posted in remote areas feel safe,” said Dr Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh.
The JHSA secretary said that maximum doctors avoid working in remote area hospitals. Assault by people’s representatives would discourage the medico to go to such places, he added.
The Topchachi CHC of Dhanbad is 45 km away from the district headquarters. Since the area falls in Naxal affected region, doctors especially lady medicos do not agree to go.
“ The JHSA also requested the District Board chairman and members to ensure the safety of doctors and health staff so that they could provide the best possible health services to people in their area.”
