Sajid Raina
Bandipora, Feb 02 : The hospital authorities during a routine inspection found at least 17 doctors and paramedics absent from duties at a district hospital Bandipora following which the medical superintendent has put them on notice and deducted one day’s salary.
The staff “at fault” has been asked to explain their position in a given time frame or face action from the higher authorities.
In a order a copy of which accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), states, “during the routine inspection of all the departments/sections on 1/02/2022 at 11:50 AM, below mentioned doctors/paramedical staff of this hospital were found unauthorizedly absent from their duties thus affecting patient care.”
The hospital MS has also warned that the case will be forwarded to higher authorities for dereliction of duties in case the absent staff fails to explain their position in a certain time frame.
“In this regard below mentioned defaulters of duties are directed to explain their position within 24 hours failing which their case will be forwarded to higher authorities for action as per service rules for dereliction of their duties,” the order states further. “In the meantime”, the MS has ordered a one-day salary deduction for the staff in question.
“The account in-charges are hereby directed to deduct one-day salary of the mentioned staff,” reads another order signed by the medical superintendent.
When this reporter visited the hospital, scores of patients who were waiting for the doctors in the premises, stated that there were no doctors to provide them treatment. They have expressed displeasure over the “mere warning” from the hospital administration and demanded a strong action to correct the mess in the hospital.
The locals said that “the absenteeism and non-professionalism at the DH is a long pending issue and requires an iron fist approach from the higher authorities to correct the mess.”
The patients said that the nursing or helping staff has also created chaos demanding money from poor parents.
Reyaz Ahmad, a local, who was suffering from high fever and also complained about chest pain, was disappointed when he did not find any senior doctors at the OPD—(KNO)
