Doctors, staff found absent during Mussorie hospital inspection, Chief MS served show cause notice

Dehradun: Several medical officers and employees, along with the Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of a sub-division hospital in Mussoorie, were found absent from duty unannounced during the surprise inspection conducted by health secretary in-charge Dr R Rajesh Kumar last week.

Following this, the health secretary in charge, Dr R Rajesh Kumar, issued a show-cause notice to the CMS to explian for the absence of doctors and employees at the hospital.

During the surprise inspection at the hospital, the secretary found that all the doctors and employees were on leave without any permission from the CHS. Ironically, the CHS himself was out of the headquarters due to his personal work without taking leave.

As a result, the Health Secretary has written to the Health Headquarters regarding this matter, urging an investigation and also served CMS with a show cause notice.

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Meanwhile, locals have also complained about the lack of doctors at the hospital and how many doctors as well as staff disappear during duty hours. Since patients are neglected from timely services, the issue has created difficulties for them.

Taking stern action against the CMS for his failure to maintain proper work orders at the hospital, the secretary ordered his salaries to be halted until an explanation was provided regarding the matter.

Kumar was shocked to witness the hospital's working environment and questioned how many staff members could be absent at the same time.

In fact, only 5 medical officers were present during the secretary’s inspection against the deployment of 28 medical officers in the sub-district hospital, Mussoorie. While one doctor is attached, one is on medical leave and 06 medical officers have gone on PG study together, the rest of the medical officers were not present.

On a stern note, the secretary directed the doctors and other staff not to take leaves without permission from the chief medical officer (CMO) after it was discovered that most of the medical officers and ministerial staff were on undeclared continuous leave during the absence of CHS.

On the other hand, the secretary also expressed annoyance at the mismanagement and lack of sanitation on the hospital premises after inspecting the emergency room, doctors' chambers, ICU, CT scan, Ultrasound and X-ray facilities. A pathology lab that provides free service was closed.

Moreover, the secretary also wrote a letter to the director general (DG) of state health services seeking answers regarding permission and duration of the leaves of the staff, including the CMS, absence of the ministerial staff, poor condition of the operation theatre and poor maintenance of the attendance register. She has been asked to remove the shortcomings and lack of staff in the hospital by staying in Mussoorie for a short period.

Apart from criticizing the doctors for their lack of responsibility and ownership roles at the hospital, it has been declared that strict action will be taken against those found guilty following an inquiry.

Commenting on the matter, Dehradun chief medical officer Dr Manoj Upreti told TOI, "The CMS had applied for leave as they had to present evidence in a court matter. However, he came back and then went to Delhi for an emergency, the information for which was not shared on a timely basis with the office. Some other staff were also found missing and show cause notices have been sent to them.”

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