Taking cognisance of the media reports on dismal service in Doon Hospital, the Chief Minister Harish Rawat made a surprise visit there on Saturday. He arrived at 8.32 am, around 28 minutes earlier than the scheduled OPD time of 9 am to 3 pm during the winter months. However, the doctors turned up on time, seemingly informed beforehand of the CM going for the surprise visit, courtesy the modern gadgets. The CM, however, sent the message home that he would conjure himself up any time to check whether things are alright in the State-run facility where thousands throng for treatment from the far-flung areas of the mountainous State.
CM visited the Emergency Ward. He sounded happy with things being done according to his past instructions. He instructed the staff to develop and extend the Neuro department. Doon Hospital must focus fully on serving the people better. All must ensure that the facility proves equal to medical colleges in terms of quality service, he stressed. Efforts should be made to ensure that its pathology and other labs work round the clock. He asked the Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) to make special arrangements to ensure that the patients get all kind of support and facilities. He met the patients and extended New Year greetings. He also enquired about the quality of facilities being provided to them. He spoke about the importance of improving Doon Hospital’s emergency.
When this correspondent from The Pioneer visited the hospital a BPl patient recounted a serious problem they are encountering. As per the norms, we would get local purchase (lP) facility. However, if the prescribed medicines are not readily available the hospital authority is supposed to provide them with the same after 24 hours. It means we have to wait for 24 hours. Such delays might worsen conditions of the patients and even might cause deaths. However, the Chief Minister has not cared to take our predicament into account during his visit, he rued. Another patient Deepak Sharma said the doctors were found seated in OPD at the appointed time just because of the Chief Minister having pounced upon them. Otherwise, most of them come as late as 11 am. He said the CM or other dignitaries should keep on giving such surprise visits frequently. “This would spare us the plight of waiting in the queues for hours at least during such high-profile visits,” he said.
The CM reached Gandhi Park and sought people’s feedback about the problems they are facing. The CM said he had come to the park last month and given instructions to fill pits and build toilets for women. These orders remaining un-implemented made the CM unhappy. He ascribed this to the laggardness of Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD). He asked the MNA to act promptly in the public interest. During media interaction, the CM said that the State Government has decided to observe 2015 as year of implementation. It is our collective responsibility to work towards public welfare. We all will have to work together to provide public with better facilities. People’s hopes will have to be taken in consideration. It is the responsibility of the officers to protect the people from the cold. To ensure this, all DMs have been provided with the required amount of funds.
The CM also gave directions to improve the state of Rain Baseras set up in the city and to ensure amenities for the inmates. He asked police to ensure that the homeless living on the roads at the mercy of nature must be provided with blankets and referred to Rain Baseras. He has entrusted the DMs with the task of ensuring that nobody in the State dies of cold. Before this, the CM paid floral tribute to the mortal remains of M Nagrajan, father of the Chief Secretary N Ravishankar, at lakhibagh Crematorium.