Kejriwal tells chief secy to probe mess at govt hospital

NEW DELHI: Unhappy with the action taken report (ATR) following his inspection at Sanjay Gandhi hospital on Thursday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed chief secretary MM Kutty to personally visit the hospital and submit a report by Wednesday.

Sources said the report has brought up ‘glaring loopholes’ in the hospital’s functioning. Officials said the chief minister described the hospital superintendent as being ‘dazed’ and ‘not aware of what was going on’.

“The chief minister was ‘shocked’ by the response of the MS. As he tagged along during the inspection, he apparently had no idea of what was going on in the hospital. The chief minister questioned if the person was even interviewed, or any counselling done to assess his administrative capability before he was appointed,” a source said.

The MS could not be reached for comment.

The chief minister went for a surprise visit to the hospital in Mangolpuri on Thursday morning. The inspection came three days after the chief minister received a report from the chief secretary that less than 50% medicines were available in some Delhi government hospitals.

Based on the inspection report, an ATR was prepared by the concerned officials, which was submitted to Kejriwal on Friday. Terming the report ‘eyewash’, Kejriwal directed the chief secretary to conduct an inspection.

“The chief secretary has been directed to personally visit the hospital and submit a detailed report on the problems and their solutions by Wednesday,” a source said. Officials said the report showed that the hospital lacked even the basic equipments to conduct blood tests.

“There are problems in supply of blood test equipments and medicines. The inspection also showed insanitary conditions besides complaints against guards,” a source said.