KORAPUT: The transfer of doctors and para-medical staff from SLN Medical College and Hospital (SLNMCH),
Koraput
, to the district headquarters hospital (DHH),
Jeypore
, has turned into a political fight between two Congress MLAs.
In July, the state government transferred 14 doctors, 14 staff nurses and 16 pharmacists to the sub-divisional hospital of Jeypore that was upgraded to DHH in August 2017, after the DHH of Koraput was attached to SLNMCH.
On August 4, Koraput MLA Krushna Sagaria staged a dharna demanding recall of the transferred health staff alleging that healthcare facilities have collapsed at the Koraput health centre.
In retaliation, Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati has threatened
self-immolation
if the transfer order of a single health staff is cancelled.
"The transfer of staff started after one year of Jeypore hospital being upgraded to DHH. The process will not be allowed to be stalled. According to records, there are 120 doctors, including professors and associate professors, at SLNMCH and there is no need to recall the transferred doctors," said Bahinipati."If a single doctor is disturbed then a mass agitation will be launched in Jeypore and Bhubaneswar," he threatened.
Officials said around 61 staff nurses, as many as eight pharmacists, 45 doctors and around 80 other health officials will be shifted to Jeypore from Koraput. "Currently, the DHH and the hospital of SLN Medical College are functioning from the same building. Staff of the DHH will be shifted to Jeypore in three phases," said Lalit Mohan Rath, chief district medical officer, Koraput.
To ensure that healthcare facilities are not hampered at SLNMCH only 14 doctors have been transferred in the first phase, he added.
Official sources said currently the DHH is functioning from the sub-divisional hospital building, Jeypore, and will soon be shifted to the newly-constructed 50-bed model maternity and child health (MCH) care ward built at Phulobado, on the outskirts of Jeypore.
"We have already shifted beds and required equipment to the MCH building from Koraput and it will soon start functioning. The process of shifting the DHH to Jeypore is being carried out as per government directive," said collector (Koraput) K Sudarshan Chakravarthy.
Members of the BJD staged a dharna in Jeypore on Wednesday demanding the full-fledged functioning of the DHH at Jeypore before August 15.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.