Labour Minister appalled at conditions in ESI Hospital

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JULY 25. After making a `surprise inspection' of the ESI Hospital, Erragadda, and finding the Superintendent, Dr. C. Chandramohan, "inefficient" in administrative matters, the Labour Minister, Mr. C. Krishna Yadav, on Tuesday announced holding of an enquiry by a Government officer into the working of the institution. Departmental action would follow, he told the accompanying press persons.

After going round the various wings, the Minister felt that the hospital lacked proper maintenance. Mr. Yadav said he had received complaints from several patients or their relatives about ``inadequate medicare'' and staff ``indifference''.

Citing an example, the Minister said that a patient, whose leg was amputated, was being made to run from pillar to post for the last two months to get a cheque for Rs. 900 passed.

A woman told Mr. Yadav that her son was not being treated well while another patient asserted that the ESI Hospital was not ``useful for us'' and added that she was forced to get tests conducted outside for Rs. 750. Another patient complained in disgust that the staff had demanded money for discharging their duty.

Mr. Syed Mastan, a fitter working in a private spinning mill in Medak district, told the Minister that the doctors failed to examine his daughter, Mehrunnisa, eventhough she was brought to the hospital at 2 a.m. with pain in her chest. The girl was seen moaning even as her mother tried to comfort her. However, a nurse intervened to say that a doctor had seen the patient in the morning. On summons, a woman doctor went to the girl's bedside to take a look at the case sheet.

Mr. Yadav got furious when he found a junked cot with a hole in the middle and a bedroll in poor shape in one of the wards. He admonished the Superintendent, who ordered immediately removal of the bedroll and the cot. The Superintendent told the Minister that he had assumed charge of the office only a week ago.

The Minister got worked up after he found an oxygen attender manning the reception counter. When he had entered the hospital premises around 11 a.m., an attender was seen occupying the chair.

He pulled up the Superintendent for poor maintenance of the laundry room. Similarly, he was upset by the ill-maintained record room, which prompted Mr. Yadav to ask the staff whether they had heard about the Government's `Clean and green' programme.

The Superintendent was at the receiving end upon entering the hospital premises after 11 a.m. Dr. Chandramohan told the Minister that he got delayed because of an official meeting.

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Section  : Southern States
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