Mir Farhat
Srinagar, Mar 12: Forty eight paramedicos were shifted from District Hospital Pulwama after two pregnant women died this week. The town observed a complete shutdown today in protest against the alleged negligent deaths and demanded immediate transfer of overstaying doctors.
People were demanding that those doctors and paramedicos who have been posted in the hospital for longest periods should be shifted from the hospital.
Chief Medical Officer, Pulwama, Dr Fayaz Ahmad told Excelsior that they have shifted 48 paramedicos from the hospital.
“Shifting doctors is not in our jurisdiction. It can be done only by the Director Health,” he said, adding, he has sent the details of the overstaying doctors to the Director.
Admitting that people are demanding shifting of over-staying doctors, the CMO said that the doctors will also be shifted.
Two pregnant women died allegedly due to doctors’ negligence this week in the hospital which shook the town and led to subsequent protests.
Waking up to the protesters’ demands, the Deputy Commissioner sought details of the over-staying staff in the hospital to shift them to other hospitals.
The hospital administration is accused of violating transfer policy by not shifting the doctors and paramedicos from the last over a decade.
The CMO said that as per service rules a doctor can stay for maximum two years at his place of posting and then he should be transferred.
Sources in the hospital said that some doctors and paramedicos have been posted in the hospital from the last 10 years, and they have hegemonised and ruined the smooth functioning of the hospital.
“The overstaying of the doctors and paramedicos has created lobbyism in the hospital and the strong lobby has dominated and taken control of things,” sources said.
They said the lobby has hampered the smooth functioning of the hospital and if any Superintendent attempts to shift any overstaying doctor, the lobby goes against him till he himself is transferred.
Assistant Director Health, Kashmir, Dr Bashir Ahmad Malik told Excelsior that the Directorate has sought list of the over-staying staff in the hospital from Chief Medical Officer, Pulwama.
“Those doctors who have overstayed are likely to be transferred from the hospital,” he said.
Meanwhile, trade, transport and Auqaf bodies in the town held a meeting and have given three days time to the Government to transfer the doctors.
They have met the DC and requested him to shift the over-staying doctors.
“We will wait for three days. If the doctors are not shifted we will go for protests again. The overstaying of the doctors has turned the hospital into a saboteur,” the traders said.
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