Mangalore, May 22: S A Ramdas, State Minister for Medical Education, paid an inspection visit to the district Wenlock Hospital in Mangalore on Tuesday.
Speaking to mediapersons after taking stock of the situation, Mr. Ramdas said that overall, he was not happy with the work being carried out at the hospital.
“Every week I speak to patients of different hospitals in the state and get first hand complaints. I had received a few complaints about Wenlock Hospital and after this inspection I have found out they were genuine. 58 doctors are not on duty today. 11 doctors have been absent for the last one month and about 9 doctors from the past one week”, he said.
The minister was severe on concerned officials of the hospital for referring patients to private hospitals citing lack of specialists.
In the ADIG Department, just the technician is attending to the patients, Mr. Ramdas said. Complaints are not being attended to in the helpline service, he added.
The minister assured that issues concerning the hospital including action against irresponsible staff, appointment of specialist doctors etc will be discussed with the Chief Minister and steps would be taken accordingly. A proposal to set up a government medical institution in the district would also be put forth before the CM, he added.
On a query whether there was any follow up and improvement in the hospital from his last visit, Mr. Ramdas said that during his previous visit there was a lack of availability of medicines which is not the case this time. Maintainence and hygiene standards are better than what he saw during his last visit although there is greater room for improvement, he said.
Responding to a query on the delay in construction of the Lady Goschen Hospital building, Yogish Bhat, Deputy Speaker, Karnataka Assembly, said that the government will try to finish the project as fast as possible keeping the option of collecting funds from donors for the project open. Only a portion of the structure was brought down because it was very weak. Alternate options such as Wenlock and RMCC hospitals have been kept in mind owing to the unavalibility of the structure, he said.
Staff request Minister to sort salary issues
After the press briefing Wenlock Hospital staff thronged to the Minister and groused that they had not been receiving their salaries and proposed that their pay be increased.
Speaking to mediapersons after submitting an appeal to the Minister, Shashikala, staff nurse, RMCC, Wenlock hospital said that she and others in the section are working for a contract based period of four years. “We requested the Minister to make us permanent staff. We do not get sufficient holidays other than the weekly offs. We are being paid Rs. 7000 in spite of our work experience while newcomers in private institutions get starting salary of Rs. 8,500. Out of 35 members in the section, 12 have already left and we too are considering quitting”, she said.
The Minister has assured that he will take a decision by evening, she said.
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