Srinagar: Patients and attendants were amused and visibly ecstatic when the Health Minister Lal Singh lashed out at SMHS faculty members including the Principal Government Medical College Srinagar for not taking good care of patients in the hospital.
Inside sources said that Health Minister arrived at SMHS hospital Srinagar at 8:30 during morning and took a group of doctors including Principal GMC Dr Rafiq Pampori to task for showing negligence in patient care.
An employee at SMHS Hospital said that Lal Singh visited Trig ward where patients with heart ailment are taken care of of. This ward was set up before two years and a foundation stone with the name of GMC Principal Dr Rafiq Pampori is inscribed on it. Lal Singh after interacting with the patients shouted at Dr Pampori. You are more interested in your publicity and least bothered about the well-being of the patients. Look, what you people (doctors) have done to this hospital, it stinks. Change your style of working. This government is not going to tolerate this and you must serve and treat patients with utmost care, Singh shouted at doctors.
Reports said that lot of people mostly attendants gathered outside Trig ward and appreciated Health Minister. Former Health Minister used to rebuke lower rung employees only but this Minister today sent a loud and clear message that everyone is equal before him and nobody will be spared for his negligence, an employee said.
I think something good will now happen and doctors will not take patients for a ride, said an attendant who was present at the time of incident.
Reports said that soon after the incident SMHS faculty members convened a meeting at GMC Srinagar that was presided by Principal Dr Rafiq Pampori. The meeting lasted for more than 2 hours and reports said that Dr Pampori has forwarded his e-mailed resignation to the Health Minister.
Both the Minister and the Principal could not be reached for the comments.