’Mystery’ appointment at St George Hospital raises eyebrows

Activist alleges foul play in recruitment at hospital, complains to Health Minister

'Mystery' appointment at St George Hospital raises eyebrows

Activist alleges foul play in recruitment at hospital, complains to Health Minister

The appointment of the blood bank in-charge of state-run St George Hospital has raised eyebrows as the person in question is officially posted as the OPD in-charge at Alibaug General Hospital in Raigarh and has been withdrawing his salary from there.

Smelling foul play in the appointment process, social activist Sanjay Gurav on Thursday shot off a letter to several authorities, including Health Minister Suresh Shetty, seeking action against the administration of St George Hospital which "illegally appointed" Dr A G Shinde as blood bank in-charge at the facility last week.

Shinde, who according to the records is the OPD in charge at the Raigarh facility, is also looking after OPD of the city hospital.

According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules, a blood bank in-charge has to be a full timer in the same department. "But the hospital administration did not follow the rules and gave Shinde the charge of OPD also," said Gurav.

He added, "The hospital administration is playing with the life of poor patients by appointing Shinde at such a crucial post. The blood bank has been infamous for black marketeering of blood units among poor patients who throng the hospital for treatment of thalassemia from across the state.
u00a0
I have complained to several authorities, including the health minister, seeking action against the hospital management. I have asked for details through an RTI application, but am yet to receive them from the FDA."

But, P R Uttarwar, FDA joint director, rejected Gurav's claims. "I have received an RTI application and have ordered my officers to look into the matter. Our inspector visited the hospital and is in the process of gathering details.u00a0 I am out of the city at present and can give proper details only after I return," he said.

In another case, the RMO of St George hospital, Dr S S Deshpande has been working with the hospital on paper, but is actually posted at the Mantralaya dispensary. He never comes to Saint George hospital, but draws his salary from there, Gurav has stated in his letter.

The lab department has seven posts for technicians, but one slot has been lying vacant for years. The technicians should have a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology, but four of them do not have the diploma certificate, Gurav has pointed out.

The Other Side
Asked how Shinde could be posted at two places at the same time, St George Hospital Medical Superintendent Chandrakant Gaikwad said, "There is nothing wrong in Shinde's appointment. We are authorised to do so.
That's all."