SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Sept 16: Doctors and health staff at Dhanbad Sadar Hospital are facing severe financial difficulties due to unpaid salaries for the last five months.
Over a dozen doctors had been appointed on a contract basis under the District Mineral Fund Trust (DMFT) during the 2020-21 COVID-19 pandemic to meet healthcare service requirements.
Their salaries were regularly disbursed until April 2025, but payments have been stalled following technical objections raised by the AG’s office.
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According to Civil Surgeon Dr. Alok Vishwakarma, the work performance of these doctors is currently under review by the district administration. “Since the AG has raised objections, salaries are on hold on technical grounds. The only alternative for them now is to work on a contractual basis under the Ayushman Scheme,” he said.
Doctors Threaten to Resign Amid Delays
Doctors working under DMFT claim that the non-payment of salaries has left them with no option but to resign en masse. “We have repeatedly requested the Civil Surgeon and DMFT nodal officer regarding pending payments, but we have not received any response. We cannot attend patients on an empty stomach; this leaves us no choice but to stop work,” said the doctors.
Impact on Hospital Services
The potential departure of DMFT doctors is expected to disrupt OPD services at Dhanbad Sadar Hospital. While Dr. Vishwakarma assured that regular doctors and Ayushman Scheme medicos would continue to provide services, the shortage of staff could affect smooth healthcare delivery.
Since the appointment of new Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan, efforts have been intensified to improve Sadar Hospital’s treatment facilities. The DC actively monitors doctors’ rosters and inspects wards to ensure patients receive corporate-hospital-like facilities.
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Round-the-Clock Care
Specialist doctors have been deployed on a rotation system, with Civil Surgeon Dr. Vishwakarma and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Sanjiv Kumar attending OPD duties daily and performing priority caesarean operations.
Located in the heart of the city, Sadar Hospital remains the preferred choice for poor patients over the Shahid Nirma Mahto Medical College Hospital.
