TN Health Minister Ma Subramanian finds no doctor at PHC during surprise visit, initiates departmental action

Subramanian also noted the unsafe and disorganised manner in which the medicine boxes were stacked in the mobile ambulance. During an inquiry with the hospital nurse, the minister learnt that the driver of the ambulance had not been coming on time, and he directed the deputy health director to initiate action against him.

திருநெல்வேலி மாவட்டம் திசையன்விளை மேம்படுத்தப்பட்ட அரசு ஆரம்ப சுகாதார நிலையத்தில் திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது. #Masubramanian #TNHealthminister #Primaryhealthcentre #Inspection pic.twitter.com/745Eg6c2fG

— Subramanian.Ma (@Subramanian_ma) August 27, 2023

The minister, who dialed a health department official, learnt that the doctors’ duty timings are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, there was no one available at the centre to provide treatment to patients who had been waiting. In a video, the nurse can be heard saying that around 100 out-patients visit the PHC on a daily basis and that three nurses work on shifts.

“There is no one available here. It’s going to be 10 a.m. This is such a big town, and no one has arrived. Except the sister(nurse), there is no staff. You provide the memo to the doctor and others,” the minister informed the health official over the phone.

The DMK minister also asked the officials to ensure that the medicines required for snake and dog bites are available at the PHCs and that they should be displayed for public convenience.