Many perceive healthcare facilities in State-run hospitals as not of quality service, but an IAS officer has preferred a Government hospital over private ones for his wife’s childbirth.
Admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital here, Malkangiri District Magistrate and Collector Manish Agarwal’s wife Sonam gave birth to their child on Friday. The bureaucrat’s opting for a government hospital sends out a strong message apparently to dispel the common belief.
“It was a conscious decision. My wife was staying with me. So, we decided to get it done here. The health facilities, especially SNCU, at the Malkangiri DHH are way better as compared to neighbouring districts,” the Collector said.
“We had done pre-natal checkups at DHH only. Since the facilities are comparable, we didn’t have to look for alternative options. It has all turned to be very good,” he added.
Notably, rich people and high Government officers residing in Malkangiri district mostly prefer Visakhapatnam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as their destination for specialised healthcare services.