The Health Department has once again attracted controversy and that also due to the irresponsible attitude from one of its Sadar Hospitals. The department is puzzled with the contradictory reports made available by Garhwa Sadar Hospital about exact number of functional beds over there.
The Sadar Hospital, that also of the home district of incumbent Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravansi, has reported about the number of beds differently while replying to a query under the Right to Information Act and when it came to report the Department in Ranchi.
A letter signed by the district’s Civil Surgeon cum Chief Medical Office T Hembram dated December 3, 2016 says that the Sadar Hospital has 105 functional beds. “Number of functional beds in Sadar Hospital, Garhwa was 100 in the year 2007. At present i.e. in the year 2016 the number of functional beds is 105. During the period between 2013 to till date the number of functional beds is 105,” says the RTI reply unambiguously.
Nevertheless the unfazed Civil Surgeon in the same breath went on reporting the Health Department something else in November this year. Stating about the exact number of beds at the hospital for the month of October, 2016 the routine monthly report showed it only 51. In the support of the RTI reply the Civil Surgeon office has also attached a copy of the permission given to the Vananchal Dental College located at Garhwa for statuary tie up with the Sadar Hospital in 2006 based on the existing bed strength, i.e. 100. As per the norm of the Dental Council of India, any such dental college must acquire a tie up with at least 100 bedded hospital located locally.
Despite repeated attempts the Civil Surgeon was not available for his comment. However, Additional Chief Secretary (Health Education and Family Welfare) Sudheer Tripathi expressed his surprise over the matter.
“I do not have the reports coming from Civil Surgeon before me right now. But if such a case has come up this is a serious matter. If the RTI reply is showing 105 beds then it must be based on the facts and figures with them. But why has the monthly report put the figure at 51IJ This has to be looked into. If you can send me the details, I would inquire about exact position with the Department officials concerned,” said the Additional CS on Friday.
Moreover some top sources in the Health Directorate are also of the belief that the Garhwa Sadar Hospital might have sanctioned strength of 100 beds but exact situation is different.
