This was disclosed by Medical Education and District-In-Charge Minister S A Ramdas who paid a surprise visit to the hospital on Tuesday. He said that the introduction of biometric system would also help in finding out the unauthorised staff.
The doctors and the staff have to press their thumb on the gadget while entering and leaving the hospital. Such a measure was very much required to ensure discipline among the staff members. Henceforth, the doctors would not be suspended as they would continue their practice in private clinics.
Notices would be served on them and increment would be cut. In the hospital, there are 180 contract labourers, 134 doctors and 194 nurses. Out of which 101 were absent including 34 doctors. Only two of the total 34 staff members had applied for leave, he added.
The visit of Ramdas exposed lack of cleanliness at the hospital. He visited the Helpline chamber, OPD, in-patient ward, discharge counter and inspected the attendance register.
The minister understood how the hospital, which is visited by more than 1,000 patients daily, has been functioning. Surprise was in the store when a person sitting at the helpline desk asked Ramdas who are you and what help he needed. This reply irritated the minister and he lost temper.
He told reporters that this hospital has a rich history and the things are falling apart after it became an autonomous institution. Patients were not being attended properly by the hospital staff and the system would be brought in the place shortly. The X-ray unit and the scanning departments would be set right at the earliest.
Complaints box
He said a complaint box would be kept in the hospital so that the patients could drop in their complaints in the box. Out of two keys one key would be with him and another at the staff concerned. The box would be opened on every Mondays.
Action on the doctors and the staff would be initiated depending upon the complaints from the general public. The identity of the complainants would be protected. Even citizens could call 080-32001111 to lodge complaints regarding functioning of the hospital.
Modernisation
Ramdas said `27 crore is required for the total modernisation of the hospital. The equipment at the x-ray and scanning departments were old and they need to be replaced with the new ones.
Besides, all the wards in all the departments would be renovated and provided with the required facilities.
The renovation work would be discussed in the State Cabinet and start the work during last week of December this year of the first week of January next year. The superintendent of the hospital, Dr Geeta Avadhani accompanied the minister.