BISHNUPUR, January 24: Fuming over absence of doctors at District Hospital Bishnupur, volunteers of Bishnupur Bazar Keithel Phambi Chaokhat Lup and Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) Bishnupur Branch indefinitely locked the lone hospital in the district today.
The district hospital having 135 staff including three specialist doctors was constructed under Special Plan Assistance of Manipur Development Society (MDS).
It was inaugurated by Chief Minister O Ibobi in the presence of Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing and Commerce & Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujamn on July 19, 2014.
According to the agitators, two doctors working in the hospital namely Dr Ankhong and Dr Bharat do not attend the hospital regularly. Whenever they attend, the two doctors spent time in canteen after signing attendance record.
The enraged agitators said the two erring doctors yesterday reached the hospital at around 12.05 pm and left around 1 pm.
Claiming that the two doctors were absent when the volunteers went to have a talk today regarding the disparity in attendance, they said only superintendent of the hospital and a doctor on night duty were present during the visit.
Minister Govindas Konthoujam himself had inspected the district hospital. During the inspection visit, not a single doctor was found. Absence of responsible doctors and staff in the hospital has caused immense inconveniences to the people at the time of urgent medical needs, they lamented.
Meanwhile, personnel of District Police Bishnupur have been deployed at the hospital campus to thwart untoward incidents arise out of the matter.