Sundergarh: The Odisha government today suspended the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) in-charge of Sundergarh district on charges of failing to implement ‘Mo Sarkar’ initiative.
As per reports, the CDMO in-charge Pankaj Patel was suspended by the Secretary of Transformation and Initiatives (5T), VK Pandian, who visited the District Headquarter Hospital (DHH) today.
The district collector of Sundergarh was also taken to task and was served a show cause notice for not implementing ‘Mo Sarkar’ initiative.
Pandian, who is on a marathon visit to the DHHs in several districts with his team, spoke to patients and their relatives in the hospital following which he ordered Patel's suspension. During the visit, some patients complained that medical tests were not being done in the hospital and food was not served regularly.
"We were asked by the govt officials whether we were getting food and other facilities properly. I told them that food is not being provided regularly by the hospital," said Nilambar Nayak, relative of a patient.
Refuting charges of negligence, Patel said, “We have not neglected any patient. As far as tests being done outside is concerned, I am not aware of that as facilities are there in the hospital so that patients can do the required tests,” said Patel.
In another incident, accusing a doctor of negligence at Rourkela Government Hospital, a woman attempted to stop vehicle of V K Pandian, Secretary of Transformation and Initiatives (5T), who was leaving the hospital after inspection.
The woman alleged that while she had come to the hospital seeking treatment of her baby boy, a lady doctor ignored her as she was busy chatting on mobile phone. Later, after the woman created a ruckus, the baby was admitted for treatment.
"The baby was suffering from fever and would have died if there was any further delay. The doctor was busy with her phone but later after I shouted, the baby was admitted to the hospital," said the complainant Tina Mukhi.
Sub-collector of Panposh, Biswajit Mohapatra said, "There was a delay initially but the baby got proper treatment at the hospital. The accusation that the doctor was playing on mobile phone is false. I have ordered an inquiry into the case."
Pandian, had recently visited the districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Boudh, Nabarangpur and Sundergarh to review healthcare facilities and infrastructure in state-run hospitals.