Bangalore, Nov 3 (DHNS): As many as 48 doctors including postgraduate students and resident doctors were found on unauthorised leave at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology during the surprise visit of the Minister for Medical Education S A Ramdas on Tuesday. 

 
A serious breach of protocol and causing inconvenience to the patients, thirty more paramedics and administrative staff were also found ‘missing’ from the hospital premises without any authority, on account of ‘holiday rush’ and ‘festivities.’

While the attendance registers were found in disarray, the biometric system installed to keep a tab on the movement of the staff was found to be non-functional.

The system was still on a ‘trial run’ if the authorities are to be believed. The personnel of the Concept Systems, the firm to which the maintenance of biometric system has been outsourced were unavailable. The Minister had arrived at the hospital with mediamen.

After a marathon four-hour inspection of the hospital, the Minister declared functioning of the administrative section ‘not satisfactory.’

“There is no point in keeping them under suspension. The doctors and other staff will keep earning their salaries without discharging their duties. Instead, I intend to cut their increments” Ramdas said.

‘Fresh’ wards

Following a tip-off on the Minister’s visit, the staff at the Dharmashala wing of the hospital sprung into action early in the morning. The wards were ‘afresh’ with an overpowering stench of bleaching powder used liberally to control the fetid smell of the toilets. The Minister even checked a toilet and infuriated by the appaling condition, ordered immediate suspension of the chief engineer in charge of building maintenance.

While Ramdas was inspecting the wing sponsored by the Infosys Foundation, the patients poured out their woes to the media. “We are here for the past 15 days and no one has bothered to clean the wards. The beg bugs makes our lives miserable in the night” said Babu, who had brought his grandmother for treatment. While patients slept on torn mattresses, bricks were found in the place of their head rests. Garbage and filth were found strewn on one side and sewage water leaked from the top. The authorities said  Dr Ramachandra Reddy, responsible for patients in the ward was on a long leave.

Lakshmi (36) who had come from Bellary for regular check up said that doctors and the ward attenders were never available to help them. “ I have borrowed money from various sources for treatment. But on arrival we are told that doctors will see us only after two days,” she rued.

The poor state of affairs compelled Ramdas to comment: “No wonder the people who sponsored us this building have spoken out against the mismanagement in the hospital.”
Noting that delay in release of money from the Chief Minister’s relief fund was the most common complaint in all the state-run oncology hospitals, the Minister said he had asked to appoint a nodal officer to assist the patients.

Meeting to clear pending proposals

Speaking to the media after his inspection Ramdas said a special meeting of deans and medical superintendents of government hospitals in the State will be called to clear their pending requests.

“I have been told that in Kidwai alone there are proposals pending for nearly 10 years. There is no excuse for this kind of laxity. The department sit down with the heads of all government hospitals to clear the pendency,” he said.