Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre Specialists’ shortage affects health services

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The proposed new medical college will help to improve services at Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC), say doctors.

The union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya had announced setting up a medical college on BMHRC premises during his recent visit to state capital.

According to doctors, 45 specialists have left the hospital after the trust, which used to run this hospital, was dissolved in 2010 with resignation of Justice AM Ahmadi.

Doctors resigned on ground that as their career growth prospects stagnated over the years. Purnendu Shukla, one of members of monitoring committee of Supreme Court, said, “Committee is taking feedback from such doctors and specialists who had resigned from BMHRC after 2010. However, only 12 doctors responded so far. Even those who responded, avoided giving exact reasons.”

Cardiologist Dr Skand Trivedi said, “NGOs used to harass doctors in BMHRC and situation was pathetic. It was too difficult to work there when NGO harassed doctors.”

Dr RK Singh, cardiologist, said, “If medical college is set up, we hope that BMHRC will be put in order. But it will take time. Right now, I am working at Gandhi Medical College and run private practice. Such an atmosphere was not there.”

Dr Subodh Varshney, gastrointestinal surgeon, Sidhanta Hospital, said, “Doctors had no option but to leave as their career growth prospects stagnated. They never demanded unnecessary hike in salary and out-of-term promotion.”

Former president of PHD Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Kothari, said, “All depend on dean of medical college, it is dean who has to manage affairs. Those resigned, their wives are still there and even they are living there. If BMHRC is not good, why are they staying there.”

Social activist LS Hardenia said, “We have been demanding for long that BMHRC should be developed into a PG medical institute along the lines of PGI, Chandigarh. This will stop flight of talent from BMHRC as doctors would get better salaries as well as job satisfaction.”