Deputy CM Inspects Balrampur Hospital, Expresses Displeasure Over Arrangements

Deputy CM Inspects Balrampur Hospital, Expresses Displeasure Over Arrangements

Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, conducted a surprise inspection of the District Memorial Hospital in Balrampur on Saturday. He expressed deep dissatisfaction upon observing numerous shortcomings within the hospital premises.

He instructed the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and hospital administration to immediately rectify the hospital's arrangements. Complaints of illegal fee collection also surfaced during the inspection, prompting the Deputy CM to order an immediate investigation.

Despite prior notice, the hospital's conditions were found to be contrary to his expectations. The Deputy CM strongly objected to issues such as dampness in wards, malfunctioning fire extinguishers, and the use of newly purchased bedsheets on beds. He clearly stated that all arrangements must be corrected in a timely manner. Emphasis was also placed on increasing the number of patients in the OPD in collaboration with public representatives.

Deficiencies Found in Hospital, Deputy CM Stern

Upon arriving at the District Memorial Hospital, Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak first reviewed the emergency services. He interacted directly with patients and examined relevant records. He expressed particular displeasure over the absence of expiry dates on the fire cylinders in the emergency ward.

Alarmingly, a patient was admitted directly below an expired fire cylinder. The Deputy CM immediately had the cylinder removed. Subsequently, he meticulously inspected various wards, restrooms, and other critical sections of the hospital.

While he appeared somewhat satisfied with the hospital's cleanliness, he expressed serious discontent regarding dampness in rooms, non-functional equipment, and negligence in their maintenance. He also questioned the use of new bedsheets purchased from shops in the wards. He suggested it would have been better if these sheets were washed before being put to use.

When questioned about the dampness and leaking ceilings in the rooms, the hospital administration attributed it to the building's age. In response, the Deputy CM directed that funds received through the patient welfare committee be utilized to resolve these issues. He instructed them to submit a detailed estimate after the monsoon to address other infrastructural deficiencies.

During the inspection, CMO Dr. Mukesh Kumar Rastogi, CMS Dr. Hira Lal, and Quality Manager Dr. Ruchi Pandey briefed the Deputy CM on the hospital's current arrangements. Local MLA Paltu Ram also urged the Deputy CM to further strengthen the hospital's facilities.

Assurance on Filling Vacant Posts, Emphasis on Improving Facilities

Calling Balrampur an aspirational district, Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak stated that the issue of shortages in doctors, staff nurses, and other paramedical staff has been taken seriously. He assured that these vacant positions would be filled soon.

He clarified that there is no shortage of medicines; rather, there is a greater need to enhance facilities. He instructed the CMO and other health officials to expand OPD services with the cooperation of elected representatives.

The Deputy CM announced that the shortage of doctors and paramedical staff at all district hospitals, as well as community and primary health centers in the district, will be addressed, and their arrangements will be improved.

Old Vehicles to Be Disposed Of, Further Training Instructed

In another significant directive, the Deputy CM stated that all dilapidated and old vehicles in district hospitals and health centers will be declared condemned. The scrap from these vehicles will also be properly disposed of, making way for new vehicles.

He instructed the hospital Quality Manager, Dr. Ruchi Pandey, to ensure all doctors and health workers receive training on operating fire extinguishers. This training will be crucial for effectively handling fires in emergency situations. The Quality Manager informed the Deputy CM that this training has already been provided and will continue in the future.

Instructing for the honest sale of medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras, he noted that being a terai region, snakebite incidents are more frequent here. Therefore, he emphasized that the provision of essential life-saving drugs, including anti-snake venom, and equipment should be robustly maintained.

In addition to these matters, he issued necessary directives on several other important points.