Superintendent of Government-run MGM hospital SS Prasad (63) collapsed during Jharkhand health minister Rajendra Prasad Singh’s inspection of the hospital and died on Monday night of heart attack.
Prasad, 63, fainted and fell down in the presence of the Minister and was admitted to the ICU of the hospital. He was later shifted to a private hospital where he was declared dead. Peeved over the incident, medical fraternity of the city have decided to protest against inspections carried out after duty hours and on ‘off-days’ by authorities. The Jamshedpur chapter of Indian Medical Association also organised a condolence meet in his memory.
IMA Jamshedpur chapter president K P Dubey, blamed the Minister’s itinerary on a non-working day (Sunday) and accompanying the Minister to all the wards of the hospital as the reason of the heart attack. “The inspection was carried on Sunday, which was uncalled for. The minister could have done on Monday, as the minister was scheduled to be in the city on that day. However, the superintendent had to work since morning on an off-day and also received criticism from the Minister,” claimed Dubey.
IMA city chapter secretary Mrityunjay Kumar Singh said that they would be taking out a rally from MGM Medical College and Hospital to district collectorate on August 29 and demand for a better working atmosphere for the doctors. On the other hand, State Health Minister, Rajendra Prasad Singh, at Circuit House on Monday refused to have been ‘harsh’ on the superintendent and also denied of taking his supporters during the inspection.
“I was quite and calm during the inspection. I even asked him to give me a list of demands related to infrastructure development. Only few administrative officials and media were present during the inspection. It was an unfortunate incident which can happen to any person known of having cardiac problems,” said the minister. The hospital superintendent’s last rites would be held on Tuesday.