RML approaches Centre for new hostel block for resident docs

With only one-fourth of its 600 resident doctors currently getting hostel facility, authorities of Ram Manohar Lohia hospital have approached the Centre with a proposal to construct a new block exclusively for them in a bid to address the accommodation problem.
Doctors working in the hospital revealed that there were only 146 rooms available in the hostels, despite the fact that over 600 resident doctors were at present working there.
Dr H K Kar, Director-cum-Medical Superintendent of RML, said there is scarcity of rooms for resident doctors. He, however, said a proposal is underway to come up with new rooms.

"We have already sent the proposal to the Union Ministry of Health to come up with the hostel block of 220 rooms, which would be exclusively meant for resident doctors. Work on the project would be started soon after the clearances by the higher authorities," Dr Kar told PTI.
Dr Dhirendra Kumar, Senior Resident, Department of Pathology, who is also President of Resident Doctors Association, said as of now there are 146 rooms available in the institute for over 600 resident doctors.
"Instead of constructing new hostels, the authorities prefer to do makeshift arrangements by making two doctors reside in a single room. This practice is being followed to fill large number of hostel rooms to cut down pendency," he said.

Dr Kumar said doctors required accommodation in the campus as a good number of them, especially those appointed in clinical departments, have to perform duties from 24-48 hours at a stretch and have to attend emergency calls.
Although the situation is no different in other medical institute of the city, what makes the case of RML resident doctors worse is the dearth of private accommodations in the vicinity of the hospital.
"There is scarcity of private accommodations for resident doctors working here as the institute is locked from all directions by the houses meant for senior bureaucrats and members of Parliament. Hence, doctors working here cannot find accommodation near the institute," he added.