Night emergency service in BBMB Hospital suspended

Doc shortage to blame | Protest against BBMB, govt

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Talwara, Updated At : 09:37 AM Sep 18, 2024 IST

The closed door of the emergency ward in BBMB Hospital.

Employees working with the BBMB here have been upset due to the suspension of night emergency services of BBMB Hospital for four days.

The Bhakra Beas Employees Union (AITUC-AFI), Talwara, organised a rally in front of the hospital on Tuesday to protest the suspension of night emergency services. This rally was chaired by Bhakra Beas Employees Union president Ashok Kumar and conducted by union general secretary Shiv Kumar.

Union leaders raised slogans against the BBMB Beas Dam Management, Talwara, and the Punjab Government. Ashok said despite the shortage of doctors in BBMB Hospital, a doctor was transferred from this hospital to Bhol Kalota CHC, which worsened the situation in this hospital.

Ashok said for the last four days, the night emergency services have been disrupted, due to which there was anger among the locals. He said even people of many villages of Fatehpur and Jaswan Pragpur in the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh also utilised the OPD and emergency medical services of this hospital.

Ashok and Shiv said the Beas dam management had spent Rs 80 lakh on this hospital’s renovation.

The union leaders gave a strict warning to the BBMB and the AAP government that if the service was not restored within 15 days, then the union would be forced to protest on the streets taking along all employees working at the Beas dam and the local villagers. Pritam Chand, Som Raj, Ashok Kumar and Surinder Kumar, etc. were also present on this occasion.

Principal Medical Officer of the hospital Davinder Puri told this correspondent that there were 15 sanctioned posts of doctor in the hospital, whereas only four were posted. Of these, two doctors were on medical leave, while two doctors including him were handling the OPD. Since it’s not possible for two doctors to continue service for 24 hours, so this service had been suspended. He said he had informed the chief engineer. As soon as the management made arrangements for the availability of doctors, the night emergency services would be restored.