Surprise visit of DC reveals no doctors & staff on time at Silchar SM Dev Civil Hospital, enquiry ordered

February 15: There were several complaints made by the common people regarding the total collapse of health facilities at S.M.Dev Civil Hospital, Silchar for long. On Saturday, a surprise visit at the hospital by Barnali Sarma, Deputy Commissioner Cachar revealed the truth. She discerned a number of irregularities over there and ordered an immediate enquiry into the matter.

DC Cachar went to the Civil Hospital along with Additional Deputy Commissioner (Health) Rajib Roy on Saturday at around 8.40 AM. To her utter surprise, she found not a single doctor at the Out Patient Department (OPD), Doctors chamber in the OPD, indoor patient area, wards, X-ray room, labour room, operation theatre, emergency duty room till 9 AM.

This infuriated the Deputy Commissioner as because a total of 25 doctors are presently posted at S.M.Dev Civil Hospital, Silchar. Inspite of this huge number, She found not a single doctor present during the time of her surprise visit. She said that even the rooms of the doctors chambers in the OPD were locked.

During her inspection, Barnali Sharma even found the OPD counter for issuing slips to the patients non-functional till 8.45 AM, though the OPD hours start from 8 AM as per the schedule. More surprisingly, only three doctors were allotted duty for OPD hours from 8 AM to 2 PM as per the roster chart. Duty roster prepared by the Superintendent of SM Dev Civil Hospital even has no mention of the name and contact information of the doctors. This she said clearly indicates something fishy. 

While expressing her deep dissatisfaction during the visit to the S.M. Dev, Civil Hospital, Silchar, Barnali Sharma said, “There are various complaints, allegations regarding non- functioning and non- performance of duties by the doctors during the OPD hours on time. Some of the doctors are not even allotted OPD/ IPD/ emergency duties, which is not at all acceptable.” 

The Deputy Commissioner ordered an immediate enquiry into the matter and directed the Joint Director of Health and Family Welfare Department of Cachar to submit the report within 24 hours.

DC Cachar Smt Barnali Sharma today visited S.M dev civil hospital along with ADC(health)Sri Rajib Roy at around 8.40am.During her visit, the DC Cachar went to the OPD, Doctors chamber in the OPD, indoor patient area,wards, X-ray room, labour room, operation theatre, etc pic.twitter.com/svka6geQPE

— Cachar District (@DistrictCachar) February 15, 2020

Some patients who often go the civil hospital and find no doctors or staff later on said, “We were very happy to learn that DC Madam has seen herself the poor condition prevailing there. We hope that she will take strong action against the doctors for negligence of their duty.”