LAMKA, October 23/IFP: The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC team led by its Chairperson Justice KG Balakrishnan today visited CCpur District Hospital to inspect the hospital.

The team, comprising of 19 members including, members Saity Batta and SC Sinha and four other multi-tasking staffs, arrived at the hospital around 1pm.

Following a power presentation on the hospital’s profile and administration by hospital staffs, the team inspected the facilities, infrastructures and function of the ISO certified hospital.

Even though there was no interaction with the media persons, it was noticeable that the team was shocked with certain aspects of the hospital.

The team members were seen questioning the hospital officials about the practice of charging money for the use of the lavatory and in another instance, shock expressions were witnessed on the faces of the team members on being informed that the key of the hospital’s ambulance was with the driver who was on a leave.

The team members had also pointed out to the hospital authorities that the name of the driver was not on the list of employees who were on leave; and further observed that an ambulance driver cannot just take leave without a substitute or replacement.

Adding to the surprise of the National Human Rights Commission team was that all three phone numbers painted on the hospital walls for receiving complaints or enquiries were not working.

The team members had actually dialled the numbers just to check and found out all three not working.

“The situation in CCpur district hospital is bad, the food unhygienic, number of doctors inadequate” said a member of the team.

Meanwhile, it may be recalled that IFP had earlier reported that a one and half year old minor had died at the hospital allegedly due to negligence of the staffs, and on another occasion, an RCC beam in the OPD ward of the hospital had given way missing a doctor by a whisker.
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NHRC team visits CCpur district hospital
Lamka, Oct 23/TSE: A team of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) who were in town today examining the functioning of the Churachandpur district hospital returned visibly dejected, saying what they saw were disheartening.

The team, comprising over 10 members, on their arrival had spread-up and simultaneously inspected the hospital wards seeking information, and at times demanding explanation which landed many of the attending staff in an awkward situation.

NHRC team has, among others, sought explanation from the staff as to why Rs 10 was charged for using toilets and as to where the money is drained on seeing a poster pasted adjacent to the toilet door.
The filth they witnessed in some of the toilets have also visibly frowned the members. Besides the absence of an ambulance driver when they tried to inspect the ambulance has also drawn severe criticism from the members who went on to the extent of demanding documents on the driver who was reportedly on leave.

The Commission members have however declined to make further comments on their findings except that the hospital was in a miserable condition. NHRC has already sent a three-member team to inspect the hospital sometime in October 2010. Their second visit to the hospital is believed to be a follow up of the findings and suggestions made by the team three years back. The NHRC team which is in the State, will meet members of the public for three days from Wednesday on human rights violations in the State.

~S Singlianmang Guite/TSE