THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Dec 29: All is not well at the MMCH Daltonganj, which continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.
On the night of December 28, a fire broke out in the old OT complex of the hospital when a split AC caught fire. Fortunately, there was no loss of life, and the fire was extinguished with water.
Palamu Civil Surgeon Dr. Anil Kumar rushed to the site to assess the situation. He explained that the power supply was immediately cut off and that the hospital manager had been directed to provide a list of all functional fire extinguishers at MMCH Daltonganj.
This incident is the second fire in the MMCH complex within just two weeks. The first occurred in the SNCU Ward 1 on December 14, where GNM Mamta Trishul and others successfully rescued eight infants.
The two fire incidents in such a short span highlight the poor maintenance of MMCH Daltonganj.
In a late-night conversation with this correspondent, the Principal Secretary of Health, Ajoy Kr Singh, expressed concern over the recurring fires. “All attention must be focused on the power supply here. These repeated fire incidents are a serious matter,” he said.
Singh also announced plans to visit MMCH in January, accompanied by specialists who will share their expertise with local doctors to improve the handling of life-threatening cases.
Finance Minister’s Surprise Visit
The dire state of MMCH Daltonganj prompted a surprise visit by Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore on Saturday, just hours before the fire broke out.
Speaking to The Jharkhand Story, Kishore said, “The hospital was filthy beyond words. It was an ‘ambaar of gandagi’ (pile of dirt).”
Every VIP visit to MMCH reveals the same grim reality of dirt and neglect. Despite repeated directives, cleanliness remains a major issue.
Why the Filth?
This correspondent investigated the root cause of the hospital’s unhygienic condition and uncovered serious staffing issues.
An outsourcing agency, Balaji Detective Force, has deployed far fewer ‘Safai Karmis’ (sanitation workers) than required. According to hospital regulations, there should be one Safai Karmi for every five beds. For MMCH’s 300 beds, this translates to 60 workers per shift for the first shift, 45 for the second, and 30 for the third—a total of 135 workers across three shifts.
However, only 30 Safai Karmis are currently employed across all shifts. “How can cleanliness be ensured with such a bare minimum staff?” questioned Hospital Manager Sunit Srivastav.
Sources revealed that corruption may be at play. Payments are reportedly processed based on attendance reports, but the agency fails to deploy the required number of workers. Supervisors tasked with monitoring cleanliness are also ineffective, further worsening the situation.
Minister Criticizes Mismanagement
Minister Kishore expressed his shock during the visit. “The emergency ward was chaotic. Attendants crowded the area, with some even sitting on patient beds. Is this the condition of an emergency ward?” he remarked.
Hospital staff reported that attendants often argue with doctors and nurses when asked to leave, unaware that their presence can pose health risks to patients. The minister directed the MMCH management to enforce stricter visiting hours for attendants.
Medical Staff Absent
During his visit, the Finance Minister was also displeased with the absence of key personnel. Medical Superintendent Dr. Dharmendra Kumar was not present, with reports suggesting that he spends weekends in Dhanbad. However, it was later learned that he was on leave.
The Minister also sought the head of the Medicine Department, Dr. D.K. Jha, who was similarly unavailable. Kishore asked to see their leave applications.
Addressing concerns about Surgeon Dr. Sushil Pandey, hospital officials assured the minister that Pandey is diligent and regularly performs his duties at MMCH.
Middlemen Exploiting Patients
The minister raised concerns about middlemen who loiter in the hospital, luring poor patients to private clinics. To counter this, Kishore directed hospital officials to enforce a dress code for all staff, from doctors to fourth-grade workers. “Uniforms should display the name and post of each staff member,” he said, giving an example: “If I were a dresser, my uniform would identify me as Radha Krishan Kishore, Dresser.”
Ayushman Card Misuse
Kishore also highlighted the exploitation of patients with Ayushman Cards. “Patients are being forced to pay for implants and other essentials that should be provided free under the Ayushman scheme. This is a serious crime,” he stated.
Hospital sources revealed that funds under the Ayushman scheme have been nearly exhausted, with no new funds arriving. As a result, patients in need of prosthetics like nails or plates for orthopaedic procedures are told to purchase them themselves, costing ₹12,000–₹15,000.
This exploitation leaves Ayushman Cardholders paying for treatments that are meant to be entirely free.
