RJD chief and health minister Tej Pratap's father Lalu Prasad left no doubt over who lords over the health department during the 91st foundation day celebrations of Patna Medical College on Thursday.
Lalu defended his "interference" in the department's functioning and the doctor fraternity too pleaded to him to solve their long-pending issues.
"Last time when I visited IGIMS (Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science), people asked me in which authority I visited the hospital," the former chief minister said, taking critics head-on in signature style. "The government has given the health department's responsibility to our party. If something wrong happens in the department, people are going to shout slogans against chief minister Nitish Kumar and me. Then why should not I visit the hospitals?"
Sources in the Patna Medical College alumni association said they invited Lalu as the chief guest for the programme because they could not get confirmation from the chief minister or any government department official to attend the programme.
During his roughly hour-long speech, Lalu lectured the doctors and administrators of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).
"You people come to the hospital at 11am and leave the hospital by 1pm because you have to go to the private hospital. Please come on time and give time to the patients (at PMCH)," he said.
He recalled the old days of PMCH, when doctors such as Kamla Acharya and Lala Sahab used to come to the hospital sharp at 9am.
"These doctors used to go from bed to bed to see the patients," Lalu said. "Those who were junior to them also used to reach the hospital on time. You (the present doctors) people should come to the hospital on time. Doctors should also stop giving favours to particular patients here."
The RJD chief also directed the PMCH administration to keep the hospital campus free of touts who lure patients to private hospitals.
Patna Medical College principal S.N. Sinha urged Lalu to look into the plan of developing new buildings for the hospital to house super-speciality wings.
"Sir, the patient load is increasing day by day on the hospital," Sinha said. "We also want to increase the MBBS seats in the college. For all these reasons, it is important that the plan of developing new buildings is materialised soon. I request the chief guest (Lalu) to look into this matter."
Presenting a one-year report card of the medical college, he mentioned the new and upcoming facilities such as hostel, upgrading of library and Wi-Fi facility.
Noted doctor and PMC alumnus D.K. Choudhary requested Lalu to look into doctors' grouses over the Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Act. The state government had notified the rules of the act in 2013. It aims to regulate hospitals, mainly private nursing homes. As per the act, hospitals are supposed to register with the government and the health facilities have to fulfil certain stipulated criteria regarding infrastructure and manpower. The doctors are opposed to a few provisions.
Choudhary also requested Lalu to see to it that PMCH is made an autonomous institute like IGIMS.
"Why can't PMCH be an autonomous institution," Sinha said. "Sir (Lalu), if you declare PMCH as an autonomous body a lot of problems would be sorted out."
Among those present at the event were noted physician Gopal Prasad Sinha, orthopaedic surgeon R.N. Singh, Indian Medical Association member Sahjanand Prasad Singh, and PMCH neurosurgery chief A.K. Agrawal.
