Srinagar, Sept 24:: The government on Thursday suspended incharge Executive Engineer, Hospital Division Mechanical Engineering Department Jammu, and Deputy Medical Superintendent, Super Specialty Hospital Jammu after an enquiry committee found mismanagement, leading to the poor service delivery system to the patients particularly those suffering from COVID-19.
On 23 September, the government had ordered an enquiry into the “shortage of oxygen in the Covid-19 care areas” in Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu;
The Enquiry Committee comprising of Dr. Yashpal Sharma, MD, JKMSCL, Gagan Jyoti, Chief Engineer Mechanical, Engineering Department, Jammu and Dr. Jitender Mehta, Medical Officer, presently on deployment to work in the Control Room, GMC hospital, Jammu, in their report has brought to fore “mismanagement and lack of coordination” among the concerned.
“The consumption of the oxygen cylinders which is very high needs to be regulated and the consumption of such high quantity of oxygen needs to be inquired in detail. The fillings of cylinders as needs to be regulated by Legal Metrology Department at source of filling,” the inquiry panel said as per officials. The Executive Engineer, Mechanical alongwith his teams needs to visit to patient care areas to ensure that the oxygen regulating system in the wards does not have any leakage or wastage and if required the repairs are made on urgent basis, the panel said.
The present Manifold room is not properly maintained and its administrative and functional control needs to be shifted immediately to the Executive Engineer, Mechanical and Central Heating Division, GMC Jammu, it said.
“From the report of the Committee, it imbibes that there has been complete lack of coordination between the Hospital Administration and the Mechanical Engineering Wing of the Hospital. This mis-management has lead to the poor service delivery system to the patients, particularly the patients suffering from COVID-19,” reads an order issued by the Atal Dulloo (IAS) Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department.
“There has been mismanagement on part of the Hospital Administration and the officers at the helm of affairs have been dealing with the situation in a very casual and unprofessional manner, thereby putting the things in disarray and the available resources have not been put to optimal use.”
In light of the findings of the Enquiry Committee, the Financial Commissioner said that it has become incumbent to take some “corrective measures and to take action against such of the officers who were associated with the duty of managing Oxygen Supply in GMC hospital, Jammu.”
Subsequently, the Financial Commissioner ordered suspension of Tejinder Singh Soodan, incharge Executive Engineer, Hospital Division, Mechanical Engineering Department, Jammu. “During his suspension, he shall remain attached in the office of the Chief Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department, Jammu.”
Also, Dr. Deepak Kumar, Medical Officer, presently working as incharge Deputy Medical Superintendent, Super Specialty HospitalJammu with the responsibilities of managing Oxygen Supply in
GMC Jammu, has also been placed under suspension. “During his suspension, he shall remain attached in the office of the Director Health Services, Jammu.”
Meanhile, Dr. Harjeet Rai, Medical Officer, presently posted as officer on special duty in the Health and Medical Education Department, has been transferred and posted as incharge Deputy Medical Superintendent, Super Specialty Hospital, Jammu vice Dr. Deepak Kumar.
