Bihar's new Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav today asked government doctors to be present on duty 24*7 in emergency wards in all hospitals in the state.
After a review meeting with the state's health department, he asked the principal secretary (health) Brajesh Mehrotra to ensure that the government doctors posted in district hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs) reside at their places of posting. He also gave some stern instructions :-
- Senior doctors to take at least two rounds at the wards in the evening along with regular monitoring
- The principal secretary to the health department should keep a tab on doctors who absent themselves from duty.
- Life saving drugs should be present in each of these hospitals so that "no patient has to roam here and there for medicines."
- To keep CT scan, MRI, X-ray machines and ventilators in good working condition
- Maintain cleanliness in hospitals.
- The superintendent of Patna Medical College and Hospital should ensure that no 'dalal' (broker) is seen roaming in the hospital to dupe hapless patients and take them to private facilities.
- If need be security guards should be posted for the purpose
- Private nursing homes be registered.
and asked the principal secretary to the health department to ensure that doctors stay at their place of posting, according to an official statement.
The minister said he would pay surprise visits to any hospital any day to see whether the orders were complied with.
With this orders, it has been made clear that earlier there was a grim situation like -
- 'Dalals' (brokers) were seen roaming in the hospital to dupe hapless patients,
- CT scan, MRI, X-ray machines and ventilators were not in good working condition
- No cleanliness in hospitals.
- Life saving drugs were not present in each of these hospitals so that "the patient has to roam here and there for medicines.
With these orders, the officials and the doctors are to be held accountable whenever there is dereliction of DUTY.