Glaring shortcomings, such as two patients sharing one bed and underutilisation of the biometric attendance system, came to the fore at the District Headquarters Hospital during a surprise inspection conducted by Khammam MLA P Ajay Kumar here on Tuesday.
Crowded wards and instances of two patients occupying a single bed in some wards — due to surge in inflow of patients suffering from fever and other seasonal ailments — greeted the legislator during his surprise inspection of the hospital. Mr Ajay went round the wards, interacted with patients, inspected the attendance registers and case-sheets as part of his sudden visit that lasted for more than two hours. He expressed his dismay over the ineffective use of the biometric attendance system that was introduced quite some time ago and wanted the authorities concerned to ensure strict compliance by all the staff members, including doctors.
Stating that the State government forwarded a proposal to convert the 400-bed hospital into a medical college, he said plans are afoot to further upgrade the infrastructure facilities in the hospital, which attracts patients from not only erstwhile undivided Khammam district but also from the neighbouring districts including Suryapet and Mahabubabad. A 70-bed trauma care centre and a CT scan machine will be set up in the hospital soon, he added. The hospital witnessed major infrastructure boost in the last couple of years and won the prestigious ‘Kayakalp’ award twice, he noted, calling upon the hospital authorities to put in their best efforts to maintain reputation of the hospital which is expected to become a medical college in the near future. He asked the hospital authorities to take stern action against the errant staff who fail to strictly adhere to the biometric attendance system and discharge their designated duties.
