Staff crunch, lack of facilities hit working of Abohar hospital

Raj Sadosh

Abohar, June 23

Even after 100 days of formation of the Congress government, there has been no improvement in the functioning of the 100-bed sub-divisional hospital here. This was evident during the visit of Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr Surinder Kumar today to inquire into serious complaints. In the past few months he visited the hospital many times. Twice the MD of Punjab Health Systems Corporation and Director, Health Services, had also inspected the hospital following complaints about the working of the staff.

Krishan Kumar, a Dalit of Arya Nagar, late last night informed the CS on the phone that no doctor attended his son, Sanjay (20), who in severe pain due to kidney stones for over an hour. Attempts to contact the SMO failed. The CS then spoke to additional SMO Dr Yushishter Chaudhary who attended the patient.

When the CS visited the hospital today, many patients reportedly narrated a tale of woes. He was told that after the transfer of Dr Sumit Loona, the anesthesia specialist to Fazilka, Dr Kavita joined in his place but she too proceeded on one-month leave the next day.

Both female gynecologists had quit a few months ago to run private hospitals. Since then work in the maternity ward had come to grinding halt even as government offers incentives on deliveries. Some field workers allegedly refer patients to private hospitals for some consideration.

Dr Kumar said gynecologist Dr Supriya Chaudhary, who had been on long leave, will join her duty tomorrow. He asked Dr Amita Chaudhary to ensure that the names and phone numbers of the doctors, nursing staff on duty are displayed properly on the notice board. Anesthesia specialist Dr Loona will be available for three days each week to assist in surgeries.

The phone allowance of employees will be withheld besides departmental action if calls of patients were not attended, he warned.

Regarding the staff shortage, he said the issue will be taken up with the head office.