Anbumani Ramadoss in Darjeeling. (Suman Tamang)

Darjeeling, April 9: The district hospital here witnessed a sea change, thanks to a ministerial visit.

The defunct hospital elevator, which had not been functional for close to five years, was suddenly found working early this morning, and so was the tele-medicine centre. All the doctors of Saheed Durga Malla Hospital (the district hospital) had reported on time wearing their full uniform, probably for the first time.

Many recollect that it was also the first time that the toilets were spic and span and the water drums were filled to the brim. The medicine chart showed that the hospital had all of them in its store and the 500m stretch of the approach road had been carpeted.

Hospital authorities, however, had not taken these measures keeping in mind the patients’ welfare, but to ensure that Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss was impressed.

As soon as Ramadoss entered the hospital premises around 9.30am, the nurses sang a welcome song in English. “This is the first time that I have received such a warm reception in a state hospital,” said the impressed minister.

However an hour later, when he finished the inspection, the praise was not repeated. “The district hospital is in a pretty bad shape,” said the minister.

Ramadoss had made enough queries that revealed the state of affairs at the hospital.

To start with, the minister had asked about the functioning of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti. The officials did mutter answers, but Maj. (retired) K.P. Malla, the secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society (Darjeeling) and a member of the Samiti, said: “I have not been called for a meeting for close to two years.”

As the minister’s visit drew to a close, the hospital employees breathed a sigh of relief. But the patients were the happiest among all.

“Why can’t a central or state minister pay a surprise visit every month. Things will definitely improve,” said Puran Subba, a patient’s relative.