Goof up: Bihar Health Dept posts dead doctor to Darbhanga Medical College

The controversial order dated August 12, which has gone viral, mentions that a lady doctor would join the Darbhanga Medical College Hospital (DMCH) as a senior resident in the department of anesthesiology.

Confirming that the doctor has not joined yet, associate professor and head of the department of anaesthesiology of DMCH, Dr Hari Damodar Singh mentioned that some journalists pointed out that the doctor in question had died back in September 2020.

The order of the State Health Department confirming the posting of 406 doctors to different health facilities across the State, had asked to join their posts within one week from the date of order.

When the doctor in question didn't join the post, the matter came to the light.

This is the second time now that controversy has erupted involving the order of the Bihar Health Department. Medical Dialogues team had reported back in March that the Bihar Government faced severe backlash in the state legislature after it allegedly promoted and transferred a dead doctor as the Civil Surgeon in Sheikhpura.

During the Zero Hour Proceedings at the State Assembly, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) member Lalit Kumar Yadav drew the attention of the Lower House towards the issue and pointed out that it was a glaring example of gross negligence on the part of the health department that it posted a doctor as a civil surgeon of Sheikhpura who passed away a month ago in February. He had added that such an incident exposes the seriousness of the government.

Also Read: Dead Doctor posted as Civil Surgeon: Govt slammed

As per the latest media report in Navbharat Times, the doctor in question didn't join her posting within the due timeline and thus the matter came to light. The daily further adds that the late lady doctor had allegedly committed suicide on 22 September 2020.

While commenting on the matter, Dr. Singh of the anesthesiology department of DMCH told Hindustan Times, "Some journalists showed us newspaper cuttings of the news related to the doctor's death last September when she was posted at the Nalanda Medical College Hospital in Patna. All I know for sure is that she has not joined my department as yet."

Meanwhile, when asked about the incident, Dr Manibhushan Sharma, medical superintendent, DMCH told the daily, "You should pose this question to the department."

"We get to hear from people that the doctor, posted here as per the order, has died some 11 months back," he added.

Further defending the department he said, "The posting order in case of Dr. Shiwangee clearly mentions under the column of 'online registration number' that she 'did not apply'. Registration numbers are mentioned in case of other applicants. So, how can a person who did not apply be posted to some place. Her name may have figured erroneously in the list."

When the daily approached a senior officer of the health department to comment on the matter, he refused to do so.