06-04-2022 : Four officers of the Health Department have been blamed for poor performance in patient care management in government hospitals and dereliction of duty. Two medical superintendents of the Jammu division have been suspended, while a medical superintendent of the Kashmir division and a block medical officer (BMO) have been attached to Jammu.
Vivek Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Health and Medical Education Department issued its instructions in a virtual review meeting on Wednesday. This action has stirred the health department. Sources said that many other doctors and staff who are performing unsatisfactory can also be blamed.
The ACS reviewed the state-level health management with the officials through the virtual medium from the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon. In the meeting, details were taken from the patients arriving in government hospitals regarding the feedback on medical facilities. Along with this, information was also taken on the compliance of Ayushman Sehat Yojana and other health welfare schemes.
But during this time many doctors could not give satisfactory answers. Taking strong cognizance of this, the ACS ordered to attach Dr. Muzaffar Ahmed Zargar, Incharge Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Kulgam, to the Health Director, Jammu office. Health Director Kashmir has been asked to appoint a senior doctor for the post.
Similarly, in-charge Block Medical Officer Pampore Dr. Asimi Nazir was also attached to the Directorate of Health, Jammu. At the same time, a departmental inquiry has been ordered by suspending the Medical Superintendent of Government Medical College, Rajori, Dr. Mahmood Hussain Wazar. During the suspension period, Dr. Hussain will be attached to the Directorate of Health, Jammu.
The Director of Health, Jammu has been directed to appoint a senior and qualified doctor to the post. Similarly, Dr. Mushtaq Hussain Shah, Medical Officer, who is looking after the charge of Medical Superintendent in District Hospital Poonch, has been suspended and attached to Directorate of Health, Jammu. It is said that ACS has also taken cognizance of not getting proper medical facilities to all the beneficiaries in government hospitals under Ayushman Sehat Yojana.
ACS Vivek Bhardwaj said that in a meeting held two months ago with the superintendents, they were instructed to strengthen patient care management. In this, in particular, patients were asked to take feedback on medical facilities. Many institutions have not worked on this. Such negligence will not be tolerated. The convenience of patients is the priority in government hospitals.