Lal Singh pays surprise visit to district hospitals Samba, Kathua

JAMMU, MAY 24(KMW): Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings departments, Choudhary Lal Singh today conducted surprise inspection of Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Bari Brahamna, Government Emergency Hospital and Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Ramgarh, District Hospital (DH), Samba, Trauma Hospital Ghagwal, Sub-District Hospital Hiranagar, Mahatma Gandhi Maternity Hospital and District Hospital Kathua. The surprise check was conducted by the Minister in view of the persistent complaints by the public regarding non-availability of medicos and paramedical staff in the said hospitals during holidays.
Director General ISM Dr. Baljeet Singh Pathania, Director Family Welfare Dr. Baldev Sharma, Project Director AIDS Control Society, Dr Mohan Singh, Deputy Controller Drug and Food Control Organization, Mrs. Lotika Khajuria, State Tuberculosis Officer Dr. Ajay Kumar Gupta, Deputy Director Health Services (HQ) Dr. Gurjeet Singh besides Chief Medical Officers and Block Medical Officers accompanied the Minister.
During his surprise visit to PHC Bari Brahamna, Ch Lal Singh directed the medicos and paramedics to remain present in the hospital as per duty roaster and provide round the clock healthcare facilities to the people. He said aim of the Government is to provide hassle-free treatment facilities to the patients in the Government health institutions.
The Minister directed the Block Medical Officer to store sufficient stock of medicines including equipments as medical aid camp is being arranged for Shri Amarnath Yatries at various places during Yatra period. He said Shri Amarnath Yatra is commencing from July 2, 2015 and the medical setup must be in place to ensure adequate healthcare facilities for Yatris.
Taking serious note of the stock of expired medicines by Pharmacist of the PHC, the Minister imposed a fine of Rs 500 on him and directed him to display the list of unexpired medicines on the prominent place of the hospital for the information of the general public.
At Emergency Hospital, Vijaypur, Ch Lal Singh found that some of the patients are without pillow and bed sheets, he imposed fine of Rs 1000 on Incharge Medical Officer for dereliction of duty. He directed him to provide best basic facilities to the patients for their early recovery.
He informed that the Government is on the job to upgrade every PHC, CHC, DH, SDH of Jammu and Kashmir and bring them at par with Government Medical Colleges’ facilities so that the patient rush in the main city hospitals is reduced. He said instructions have been issued to the hospital functionaries to avoid caesarian deliveries and referral cases in the main hospitals of the Jammu city. He asked them to treat the patients in the respective hospitals. He said all the hospitals of the rural pockets and remote areas have been equipped with all infrastructural facilities with adequate staff and medicines.
The Minister directed concerned authorities to ensure their frequent surprise checks of deployed staff in wards and ensure that no official or officer remains absent from duties. He directed the hospital functionaries to issue duty roaster of the medicos and paramedics so that the patients do not face any inconvenience. He asked for increasing OPD and IPD in the Vijaypur block hospitals like NTPHCs and SDHs.
On the absence of the Block Medical Officer, Vijaypur, Ch Lal Singh imposed fine of Rs 10,000 and Rs 500 on one Community Health Officer for not maintaining the proper record of the hospital.
At District Hospital Samba, the Minister inspected the healthcare facilities and duty roaster of the medicos and paramedics. He asked them to provide best possible healthcare facilities to the patients and maintain dress code and cleanliness in the hospital.
At Trauma Hospital Ghagwal, the Minister inspected the ongoing construction work of additional block of the hospital. He directed the executing agency to complete the project by October this year. He said his aim is to bring the hospital at par with District Hospital Samba with adequate men and machinery.
To meet the shortfall of paramedics in the hospital, he asked CMO Samba to detach all the officials attached in other districts of the Jammu province so that the hospital functioning doesn’t suffer. He asked the staff members to show their efficiency in providing best medicare facilities to the people.
At Sub-District Hospital, Ghagwal, Ch Lal Singh imposed Rs. 3000 fine to Paramedic staff and Rs. 5000 to Block Medical Officer on the absence of most of the staff in the hospital.
Later, the Minister also visited Lakhanpur and inspected site for establishment of Medical Aid Camp for Shri Amarnath Yatries. He asked the accompanying District Development Commissioner Kathua Mr. Ajay Singh Jamwal to make efforts for providing basic amenities to the Yatries during Yatra period. He said instructions have been issued to the Health Officers to establish Medical Aid Camp at Lakhanpur by Monday and ensure issuance of Medical Registration Certificates to the Yatries under proper norms. He said the department will also provide free medicare facilities to Yatries coming from across the world for Shri Amarnath Yatra at the gateway of the Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, the Minister visited Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar and found three senior doctors having not attended the call duty as per routine roaster. He imposed fine of Rs 1000 on each doctor for dereliction of duties. He also imposed fine of Rs 10000 on Medical Superintendent of the hospital for not maintaining cleanliness and housekeeping including laundry services in the hospital.