Mumbai’s guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar orders PWD to fix JJ Hospital hostel

Guardian Minister of Mumbai Deepak Kesarkar during a visit to JJ hospital’s hostel on Wednesday evening

A day after the state human rights body pulled up government officials and JJ hospital's dean for the crumbling infrastructure of resident doctors' hostel, Mumbai's Guardian Minister Deepak Kesarkar paid a surprise visit on Wednesday evening. He ordered the PWD officials to fix the hostel building as well as other infrastructure that need repair at the earliest, said officials at the hospital.

He also assured that the government will bear all the related costs, they added. The Maharashtra State Human Right Commission (MSHRC) pulled up the chief of Directorate of Medical Education, JJ hospital dean and top PWD babus for their lack of concern towards the resident doctors' poor living conditions on Wednesday.

The hostel for resident doctors of Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals. mid-day saw broken beams and staircases, falling plasters and leaking ceilings during a visit earlier this month

The MSHRC had summoned the officials after examining the hostel infrastructure a few days after mid-day's October 3 report about broken beams, tiles and staircases, chunks of falling plaster and leaking ceilings, which this correspondent saw during a visit to the hostel. The Public Works Department (PWD) had also said that the 2018 report of the structural audit of the building mentioned that the hostel needs major structural repairs.

Also Read: JJ hostel mess: Maharashtra state human rights commission pulls up lax officials

Seeks prompt repairs

During his visit to the Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals on Wednesday evening, minister Kesarkar checked the hostel building. A senior official from JJ hospital, requesting anonymity, told mid-day on Thursday, "The minister asked us about the matter regarding the hostel and he was given all the information. Thereafter, he asked the hospital and PWD officials to take immediate measures for the repair work of the resident doctors' rooms, canteens and the college building as well."

He added, "The minister also told the PWD officials that the doctors work day and night for patients' care, hence the repair work must start immediately, so that they won't have to face any more problems. He assured that the funds for the repair work would be provided through the District Planning and Development Council (DPDC). He also told the officials that if the repair cost is huge, he will ensure that the cabinet clears the fund."

Asks for other proposals

"The minister also praised the hospital staff for their services. The cardiac department also met the minister and explained to him the facilities available at the department. The minister also mentioned that the patient load is increasing and there is a need to strengthen and upgrade every department.

"He directed the hospital authorities to send a proposal for the purchase of a second echo machine and cath lab required for angioplasty. He also asked them to send a purchase proposal for a radiofrequency ablation machine for the surgery department. The minister also visited the kitchen where food for patients is cooked, and instructed the hospital authorities to build a modular kitchen," the senior hospital official said.

2018
Year structural audit of hostel was done