KOLKATA: Callous behaviour of health employees continues to embarrass the state government. On Sunday morning, a doctor on duty was found to be attending patients in an inebriated condition at Baghajatin State General Hospital.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee reacted sharply to the incident, condemning the act and promising drastic action. An FIR has been lodged against the doctor at Patuli police station. A departmental probe was also instituted.
Incidentally, Mamata had made a surprise visit to this very hospital days after taking charge and promised sweeping changes. It has been five months since then.
On Sunday morning, patients at the emergency ward found doctor Prabir Kumar Ghosh (59) speaking incoherently. He looked ill and his breath reeked of alcohol.
Samar Ray, a patient suffering from knee pain, realized the doctor was drunk. Shocked, he told other patients and lodged a complaint with the hospital authorities. As the news spread, locals stormed into the hospital and demanded immediate action.
Drunk doctor confesses: Baghajatin State General Hospital doctor Prabir Kumar Ghosh was subjected to blood and urine tests at MR Bangur hospital after being found drunk on duty.
Ghosh claimed he had been treating patients with care since morning and there had been no negligence on his part. He confessed to having had alcohol and explained it was to get rid of joint pain.
After learning about the incident, Mamata Banerjee said: "The doctor looked unfit to treat patient. He does not look normal. He should be punished." She later termed the doctor's behaviour and aberration.
"If I sack the doctor, it will be difficult to find a replacement. In many hospitals, there is shortage of doctors. We want to adopt the public-private partnership model to improve health infrastructure," she said.
"But there was no system of punishing doctors and health staff for negligence. Often, health staff is reluctant to treat patients and misbehave. This will not be tolerated," she added.
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