The surgery department Chief Dr. Chandra Shekhar Agrawal’s office at BP Koirala Institute of Health and Sciences was padlocked today.

BPKIHS Employees’ Welfare Society members padlocked the office after the three-day ultimatum served to the hospital management to take action against Dr. Agrawal expired today. 

Earlier, the society had served an ultimatum to the management on Sunday to take action against the doctor as his acts were against the interests of the hospital. 

Society has accused the doctor of sending patients out for CT scans, x-ray, video x-ray and other services despite frequent warnings. “As the management showed no interest in taking him to task, we had to resort to the lockout,” said the society Chairperson Sujendra Tamang. Besides Dr. Agrawal’s office, the agitating employees have also padlocked the surgery department and paying OPD.

“He would send patients out of the hospital for various services even though those services are available at the hospital itself,” said Tamang. According to a source, the irresponsible acts of Dr. Agrawal and half a dozen other doctors were exposed when society monitored the hospital more than a month ago. 

Dr. Agrawal was found to be doing the same even during the second monitoring conducted about six days ago, said Tamang, adding that it forced them to padlock his office. Meanwhile, BPKIHS vice-chancellor Dr. Balbhadra Das has termed the lockout a wrong step. “Lockout is unfortunate, especially when we’ve directed the director to investigate the case and take necessary action against doctors if they are found guilty,” he said.

Published on: 3 October 2013 | The Himalayan Times