Doctor suspended, first call on helpline in J

Srinagar, Dec 30 (UNI) A doctor was suspended after a first complaint received on 24 x 7 ''helpline'' set up by the directorate of health service in the Jammu and Kashmir, was proved correct.

The helpline has been set up where complaints against doctors, not attending the patients or overcharging them in private clinics, are being received.

An official spokesman said the helpline received a complaint that an Assistant Surgeon on night day in Community Health Centre (CHC) at Seeer Hamdan was absent from duty.

The complainant said that there is no doctor available for night duty.

Accordingly, he said, prompt action was taken and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Anantnag was instructed to rush to CHC Seer Hamdan and verify the complaint.

The complaint was found correct as the doctor on night duty had left the station.

The BMO Mattan made alternate arrangement by detailing another doctor for night duty and the absentee doctor has been placed under suspension.

Let people come forward and help the government to streamline the health sector in the state, Secretary Health and Medical Education, K B Jandial told UNI.

Mr Jandial said the department was receiving complaints from different areas of the state against doctors and other paramedical staff members for not attending their duties properly, particularly in remote areas.

He said to address the problem more affectively with the help of common people, the department has established a helpline where complaints could be registered against doctors and paramedical staff who are not attending their duties regularly.

But the success of the helpline entirely depends upon the common people who should take advantage of it so that a proper action could be taken against the erring doctors, he said.

Mr Jandial said there are complaints that in some rural areas doctors donot visit for months and the health centres remained closed or they are being run by paramedical staff.

UNI