Dual Rule Hits Hospital Hard

The district headquarters hospital, which had been attached to the SLN Medical College and Hospital since past one year, is yet to come under its complete control. With both the district medical administration and the college authorities jointly governing the hospital, confusion and problems have reportedly aroused in smooth functioning of the SLN. While the chief district medical officer controls the headquarters hospital, the superintendent governs the SLN staff members. “After being attached to the medical college, the stock and beds of the hospital should be automatically transferred to the SLN authorities, but this is yet to be done. As a result, there is overlap of power and non-cooperation of the staff members,” said Koraput resident Ajit Patra. Sources alleged that patients were the ultimate sufferers because of the tiff between the workers belonging to the hospital and the SLN.

Admitting that the dual rule was creating problem for smooth functioning of the hospital, college superintendent KB Subudhi said: “The hospital workers never listen to us as they are under the direct control of the chief district medical officer, and at times, our staff members also behave in a similar way.” The superintendent said as the hospital expenditure was met from the Rogi Kalyan Samiti fund, the medical college had no financial power. “The Swasthya Bikash Samiti fund meets the financial requirements of a hospital attached to a college. Once it is registered, we will get financial independence and the hospital won’t have to depend on the Rogi Kalyan Samiti fund,” said Subudhi. Koraput chief district medical officer Lalit Kumar Rath said there might be some issues as it was a transition phase. But, college dean Krushna Chandra Biswal is hopeful that things will fall in place in a couple of months as the district hospital is set to shift to Jeypore. – Telegraph India