Udupi: Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader on a surprise visit to the District Hospital took the district surgeon to task on the issues of cleanliness and repeated complaints of mismanagement. The minister, who made a surprise visit, visited each and every ward and interacted with the patients, the district surgeon who was on leave arrived to the hospital and joined the minister while interacting with the patients. Patients explained their problems to the minister who assured them of action.
While Khader was climbing the steps he saw the window glass broken, and asked the district surgeon why it was not repaired. The district surgeon said that repairs would be done soon. Khader asked about the financial situation of the hospital for which the District Surgeon said that the government is releasing Rs 4 lakh per month in which a major share was paid as salaries to staff. Khader instructed the DS to repair the broken window glass which was costing less than Rs 100. He instructed the district surgeon to maintain cleanliness in the hospital since the hospital cleanliness was not up to the mark.
Khader asked the district surgeon to break his silence on the appointments of of doctors. DS said that the sanctioned strength of the doctors is 21 but 18 are on duty. 49 nurses, 16 D Group workers, 8 lab technicians, 2 X-ray technicians and 2 dialysis technicians are on duty.
MLA Pramod Madhwaraj said that the district surgeon was repeatedly saying there was shortage of staff, but having enough staff to function the district hospital was not functioning properly.
Congress party workers said that the people were visiting the private hospitals, and even the doctors in the district hospital are insisting the patients to consult them through private hospitals.
District Surgeon brought to the notice of the Minister that medicines were not supplied, for which the minister called the medicine supplies in-charge and directed him to supply medicines without delay.
Later speaking to mediapersons he said that, 2 bike ambulances, 2 108 ambulances from Mangaluru will be deputed to the Paryaya Celebrations. The festival is not just limited to Udupi, it is the festival of entire Karnataka and the officials should not neglect any issues. He also said that 4 Clinics will be setup and a mobile clinic will also be setup. He instructed the DHO to supervise the arrangements along with the District Surgeon.
CMC President Yuvraj Puttur, DHO Rohini, Vasudev Bhat and others were present.
