Health Minister Banna Gupta on Saturday visited Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi to inspect the arrangements in the premiere State-run hospital and interact with patients and doctors about the various requirements that are to be met.
Gupta spoke to some patients undergoing treatment at the hospital and sought their opinion on whether the facilities provided were up to the mark or not. Later, he spoke to RIMS Director Dr. DK Singh and offered complete support of the Government in improving the facilities at the hospital.
Answering queries about the need of new equipment in the hospital, Gupta assured doctors that he will soon ensure that equipment needed for different diagnosis are installed in the hospital so that patients do not have to get diagnosis done in private clinics and bear additional expenses. “We will provide all necessary support for better running of the hospital and ensure that the quality of health facilities provided here improves,” Gupta said.
Later in the day, Gupta travelled to Jamshedpur and met survivors of a road mishap at Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH). As many as seven Jawans who sustained critical injuries in a road mishap are undergoing treatment at the hospital. The Minister met the Jawans and assured the best possible medical care to them.
Gupta also happens to be the Minister for Disaster Management in the Hemant Soren Cabinet. The Minister left an event half way through on Saturday and rushed to Mahatma Gandhi Road in Ranchi after receiving information about a fire breakout in a building. He sought details about the fire breakout from fire tender operators and fire fighting officials present at the spot. He also asked them to seek the help of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) if need be.
Gupta has been on an inspection spree since he took charge as the Health Minister. He has also taken initiatives to bridge the gap between commoners and the ministry in order to serve people better. The Congress Minister has been among the most vocal members of the recently-expanded Cabinet. Earlier this week, he asked doctors, hospital authorities and medicine shop owners to not be afraid of officials and directly inform the Minister over WhatsApp if any official demands bribe.
Last week, he also visited Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) to review the state of affairs in the premier mental health facility. He pointed out that many inmates at the hospital were staying at RINPAS despite being treated completely as their family members were not willing to take them home.
