State Health minister Banna Gupta on Tuesday lost his cool on seeing the condition of Sadar Hospital, Ranchi. Gupta while participating at the inauguration of State’s first Plasma bank for Covid 19 patients at State’s biggest health institution Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), was informed that health workers at Sadar hospital are on strike in support of various demands.
The minister without wasting time decided to visit Sadar hospital to sort out the issues of health workers. On seeing the condition the minister got upset. Garbage, human waste and medical waste were littered around the hospital. The minister directed the Civil Surgeon to look into the matter and asked the CS to issue show -cause notice to the vendor engaged in maintaining the upkeep of hospital premises.
The minister was also annoyed at seeing no security personnel at the entrance gate and people were moving here and there. The minister directed the Civil Surgeon to upgrade security arrangements on the premises at the same time asked the CS to submit a report about security arrangements at the health hub.
The minister on the occasion asked the CS and DDC to prepare a detailed plan about construction of approach roads to the hospital and submit it to the road construction department. The minister directed the Civil Surgeon to prepare a report about the shortcomings at the hospital and submit it to the department within 15 days. He said that the department will not tolerate any type of negligence in treatment, hygiene and security at hospital premises.
The super-specialty facility at Ranchi's Sadar Hospital became partially operational on Friday after remaining non-functional for six years. The hospital mainly caters to maternity and child care.
Later the minister had a meeting with agitating medical staff and listened to their demands. The minister on the spot resolved some of the issues of agitating nurses. The agitating staffs’ demands were provision of separate vehicles for sample collection. The minister asked the CS and DDC to arrange 10 vehicles for sample collection.
The agitating medical staffs’ second demand was leave on alternative working day, which the minister refused to accept.
The minister said, “Presently the entire State is facing the pandemic and there is shortage of medical staff. In such a situation demand for leave on alternative days is unaccepted.
However, leave on four working days was accepted.” The minister asked the CS and DDC to provide better food to medical staff. Also the minister talked to NHM Director Ravi Shankar Shukla to provide incentive to health workers on lines provided in other states.