Date:14/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/14/stories/2009011452320300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Karimnagar

MSR, Ministers slam ‘irresponsible’ doctors

Staff Reporter

APSRTC Chairman laments lack of responsibility among medical staff

Inhospitality: APSRTC chairman M.Satyanarayana Rao inaugurating the 40-bed hospital for pregnant women and infants in Karimnagar on Tuesday. Ministers T. Jeevan Reddy and J. Ratnakara Rao are also seen.

KARIMNAGAR: APSRTC chairman M. Satyanarayana Rao, Minister for Endowments J. Ratnakara Rao and Minister for R&B T. Jeevan Reddy have expressed their displeasure against the doctors of government headquarters hospital for failing to provide proper Medicare to the rural, poor patients.

The district dignitaries participated in the inauguration of an exclusive 40-bed hospital block for the treatment of pregnant women and infants and also eyeballs collection centre at the district headquarters hospital premises in Karimnagar on Tuesday.

Wrong signals

Speaking on the occasion, APSRTC chairman M. Satyanarayana Rao expressed concern over the poor performance of doctors at the government hospital. He found fault with the hospital for conducting only 26 deliveries in a month in spite of having enough infrastructure and facilities to do more. “The doctors’ negligence is sending wrong signals to the general public about the government hospitals”, he pointed out.

Specialists

With regard to the non-availability of orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital and the reference of accident cases to the private hospitals, he said that the hospital staff should inform the elected representatives so that they would take measures for the appointment of required specialist doctors. He assured that they(elected representatives) would also strive for the opening up of Nursing school at the government headquarters hospital.

Criminal neglect

Quoting an example of a duty doctor refusing to provide medical assistance to a woman who had come from the interior Mangela village, Minister for Endowments J. Ratnakara Rao asked “What is the use of spending crores of rupees on the government hospitals and the salaries of the employees”. He called upon the doctors and medical staff to work with dedication and serve the rural poor.

Winning hearts

“We should have some concern for the society in which we are living or else the God will punish them”, he said and appealed the doctors to provide some good service to the patients and win their hearts. He also instructed the hospital superintendent K. Anantha Rao to curtail his private medical practice.

Concern

Minister for R&B T Jeevan Reddy called upon the society to utilise all the benefits available at the government hospital.

He also expressed concern over the conduct of caesarian surgeries for all delivery cases in the private hospitals. ZP chairman Arepalli Mohan, hospital superintendent K Anantha Rao and others were also present.