A shabby state of affairs in one of Bangalore's premier Victoria Hospital came to light after a surprise visit by Karnataka's Medical Education Minister A Ramadas. Much to his surprise, the minister found liquor bottles in toilets and doctors who had not showed up for duty for two months.
He also found condoms behind windows and dirt in a drinking water sump at the hospital. The minister was on a surprise check and he ended up being more than just surprised.
A Ramadas said, "Regarding maintenance, I've never experienced this sort of a thing anywhere."
He said that he has suspended the kitchen in-charge and nursing in-charge. "I saw more than 63 doctors absent. I'm collecting datas of last three months and I'm cutting the salaries of the doctors," Ramadas said.
What is even more worse is that some rooms and drawers were locked to prevent checks, drug stocks were empty and doctors had even made out prescriptions without maintaining a record.
A judicial inquiry has now been ordered, but the patients do not think things will change.
The Victoria Hospital in Karnataka is almost equivalent to the AIIMS in New Delhi. And while the inspection may have sorted out problems for now or the next 15 days, two months from now, these problems will return. The question remains that for how long can a minister go around to check if toilets and kitchens are clean?
