DC Barnali Sharma pays a surprise visit to Civil Hospital; finds doctors are unavailable during OPD hours, asks for a report

Cachar Deputy Commissioner, Barnali Sharma, today paid a surprise visit to S.M Dev civil hospital and found out that not a single doctor was present in the hospital till 9 AM, though there are 25 numbers of doctors posted at S.M Civil hospital. DC was also surprised to find the rooms of the doctors’ chambers in the OPD were in locked condition.

During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner Cachar went to the OPD, Doctors’ chambers in the OPD, indoor patient area, wards, X-ray room, labour room, operation theatre, emergency duty room.

Barnali Sharma even found the OPD counter responsible for issuing slips was not functioning till 8.45AM during her inspection, though the OPD hours start from 8:00 AM. Only three doctors were seen engaged during the OPD hours from 8AM to 2PM as per roster. Sharma found that the duty roster prepared by the Superintendent of SM Dev Civil hospital has no mention of the name and contact information of the doctors.

While expressing her deep dissatisfaction during the visit to the SM Dev Civil hospital, Barnali Sharma said, “There are various complaints, allegations regarding non- functioning and non- performance of duties by the doctors during the OPD hours, some of the doctors are not even assigned OPD/IPD/emergency duties, which is not at all acceptable.”

Deputy Commissioner has called an immediate enquiry report within 24hrs in this regard from Joint Director of health and family welfare department.