Jamshedpur, June 10: East Singhbhum deputy commissioner got an opportunity to make use of his MBBS degree.

Shortage of doctors and the plight of villagers at a far-flung village in Patamda block made Nitin Madan Kulkarni to double up as a doctor.

Kulkarni, who has a MBBS degree from Government Medical College, Nagpur, (1994 batch) left medical practice to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

?I had visited the area earlier and was moved by seeing villagers line up for treatment at the Patamda primary health cetres. Except for one regular doctor, there were no other doctors to attend the patients,? said Kulkarni.

Four doctors appointed on contract basis posted at the Patamda PHC were suspended last fortnight at the orders of deputy commissioner after a surprise inspection at the health centre.

Today, the deputy commissioner examined about 10 patients at Dimbudih village, about 65 km from the district headquarters.

The health camp attended by over 1,000 patients was jointly organised by the Jamshedpur chapter of Indian Red Cross Society, a local non-government organisation (Tagore Society) and the East Singhbhum district administration.

?I have ordered to arrange another health camp on July 10. I would certainly try to attend that camp,? said the deputy commissioner.

Kulkarni, a gold medalist at the medical college, still goes through the medical books. ?I still go through the medical books in spite of my busy schedule,? said the deputy commissioner.

The deputy commissioner had to skip an important meeting with Kolhan commissioner Chintu Nayak for the health camp. ?But it was for an better cause,? said Kulkarni.