Health Minister Finds Doctors Absent at Gandhi Hospital
Hyderabad: Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narsimha was unhappy after finding that some professors and assistant professors were absent during duty hours at Gandhi Hospital. On Tuesday, he directed the hospital superintendent to issue show cause notices to the absent doctors and ask for an explanation.
During a surprise visit to the hospital, the Minister also ordered action against staff at the IVF centre for delays in services. He went directly to the outpatient (OP) wing and checked the attendance register. To his shock, he found that several senior doctors had not signed it. When he asked about their absence, he was told that they had not reported for duty.
Angered by this, the Minister instructed Hospital Superintendent Dr. Ch. N. Rajkumari to issue notices to those who were absent without permission. He also expressed concern that professors and associate professors, who should be available in the OP wing, were missing. He directed the Superintendent and the Director of Medical Education (DME) to take necessary action.
Afterward, the Minister inspected various hospital departments, including the OP, inpatient wards, Mother and Child Hospital, IVF centre, diagnostic services, and scanning wards.
Speaking to reporters, Raja Narsimha pointed out that some staff members were absent without informing authorities. He also noted that infrastructure projects were in progress but needed to be completed faster. The IVF centre, though operational, was not producing the expected results. He stressed that Gandhi Hospital required a thorough review to ensure better patient care.
The Minister assured that no one, including professors, duty doctors, resident medical officers (RMOs), and non-medical staff, would be spared if found neglecting their duties. He warned that the government would take strict action against any irregularities in the hospital. Surprise inspections would continue to ensure proper functioning, he added.
