JOIN US The Bihar government on Tuesday suspended the medical superintendent of the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) Dr Lakhendra Prasad and transferred seven other doctors for dereliction of duty.
Prasad was not present on the campus when Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi undertook a surprise inspection of the PMCH on Sunday evening. Several people who were seriously injured in the stampede here on October 3 are recuperating at the PMCH.
Miffed at the absence of senior doctors, including the medical superintendent, Manjhi ordered disciplinary action against the erring medicos. PMCH sources, however, said that Dr Prasad was on duty from 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday and left thereafter. But when Manjhi visited the hospital at around 6pm, he was not present. When informed about Manjhi’s surprise visit, Dr Prasad returned to the hospital but could not meet the chief minister, who was then talking to the media.
This is the second occasion in the last two days when the state government has taken action following the stampede in which 33 people were killed and several others injured.
Earlier, Patna DM, SSP, Divisional Commissioner and DIG, were shunted out. The government has asked PMCH principal Dr S N Sinha to hold additional charge till a new medical superintendent is appointed.
Meanwhile, the Bihar unit of Indian Medical Association and the Bihar Health Service Association office-bearers held an emergency meeting on Tuesday where it decried the government’s bid to make doctors the sacrificial goat and demanded immediate withdrawal of punitive action.