Bihar Health minister asks doctors to be present on duty 24x7

Bihar's new Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav today asked government doctors to be present on duty round-the-clock in emergency wards in all hospitals in the state.
Yadav, son of RJD president Lalu Prasad, gave the stern instruction after a review meeting of health department and asked the principal secretary to the health department to ensure that doctors stay at their place of posting, according to an official statement.
He also stressed that senior doctors take at least two rounds at the wards in the evening along with regular monitoring and asked the principal secretary to the health department to keep a tab on doctors who absent themselves from duty.

The minister said he would pay surprise visits to any hospital any day to see whether the order was complied with, the statement said.
Yadav instructed that life saving drugs should be present in each of these hospitals so that "no patient has to roam here and there for medicines."
He also ordered to keep CT scan, MRI, X-ray machines and ventilators in good working condition and maintain cleanliness in hospitals.

The minister instructed the superintendent of Patna Medical College and Hospital to ensure that no 'dalal' (broker) is seen roaming in the hospital to dupe hapless patients and take them to private facilities.

"If need be security guards should be posted for the purpose," Yadav said.
He also asked for registration of private nursing homes.