Bandipora, July 31: When the Additional Deputy Commissioner Bandipora attempted to check the healthcare facilities at the Sub-District Hospital here, he had to face embarrassing moments after some of its employees allegedly took him hostage inside.
 The ADC Ghulam Muhammad Barkboo told Greater Kashmir that he visited the SDH to “set things right there.” “The locals would often complain about lack of facilities at the SDH. So I visited there on Monday morning to set things right. But the employees there began shouting slogans and held me hostage,” he said. Alongside Barkboo, a local reporter of ETV Urdu was also allegedly manhandled.
 The SDH is earning disrepute in the wake of poor facilities and alleged misbehavior by its employees with the patients and attendants. This, according to witnesses, forced the patients and attendants to shout slogans against the SDH employees. They also sought the intervention of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah “to set things right at the SDH.”
 “We are protesting against the lack of facilities at the SDH for the past two months. But nobody is listening to us,” the protesters said. “The employees are not attending the patients properly.”
 The local residents allege the paramedical staff at the SDH is too not duty-bound. “The SDH should be equipped with all medical facilities so that people don’t face any inconvenience. And the staff should be well trained and disciplined,” they said.

INQUIRY ON: HEALTH MINISTER
 Meanwhile taking cognizance of ‘hostage’ episode, the Health Department has ordered an inquiry to ascertain the facts.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir the Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma said that an inquiry team has been constituted regarding the complaints about the SDH and the Monday’s incident there.
 “An inquiry has team has been constituted which will look into the all incidents and complaints about the hospital. The probe panel is being headed by Deputy Director Health Services,” Sham said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST