Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was left fuming during a surprise visit on Sunday to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) to meet the victims of Friday's stampede as he found doctors unavailable in the Emergency Ward.
The chief minister was also angered by medical arrangements in the ward - medicines were said to be unavailable. The entire place wore a filthy look.
"People were not on duty. The doctors were out. I talked to the stampede victims and other patients also. 80 per cent of the prescribed medicines were unavailable. They were being bought from outside. Only injections are given here. I called the PMCH Superintendent, but he was not present," Mr Manjhi told reporters.
The chief minister was also upset with the unhygienic conditions prevailing in the hospital.
"The bed-sheets are being changed once a month or, at times, after 15 days or a week. Rules are not being followed. I took the PMCH Principal and Deputy Superintendent and visited different places in the hospital. I went to the bathroom and saw that it was very dirty with no water available," Mr Manjhi added.
The Chief Minister, who took a round of different wards in the hospital, termed the condition of the premier government hospital in the state capital "very dissatisfying".
"The worst thing is that there are patients here who were admitted here for a month or 45 days, but doctors are not treating them. Doctors are not doing regular rounds, they seldom come to see the patients," he said.
The chief minister has promised strict action against those found negligent.
"I will think about this now. We will take action tomorrow," he said.
