Kolkata, May 15 -- Just days after assuming office, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday visited Kolkata's SSKM Hospital and held an extensive review meeting with senior officials, doctors and administrative heads, signalling the new government's focus on revamping the state's healthcare delivery system.
Expressing concern over complaints of "broker raj" at state-run hospitals, he asked officers to take strict action. At a meeting, Adhikari also issued directives aimed at curbing irregular patient referrals.
"The CM made it clear that there will be zero tolerance towards any form of middleman activity in hospitals. Transparency and accountability in patient care are now the top priority," the senior Health Department official present in the meeting, reportedly told a news agency. During the visit, the Chief Minister inspected several departments of the premier state-run hospital and interacted with medical personnel regarding patient care, infrastructure bottlenecks and the availability of essential services.
Officials said the meeting focused on improving management, reducing waiting time for patients, and strengthening emergency response mechanisms. Adhikari reportedly stressed that government hospitals must function with greater accountability and efficiency. He also sought detailed reports on bed occupancy, ambulance availability, medicine supply, diagnostic facilities and manpower shortages across major hospitals in the state. An App to navigate the medical system has been in the suggestions given by the CM. Sources in the administration said the CM instructed health department officials to prepare a roadmap for modernisation of state-run medical institutions, with special emphasis on digital monitoring, better sanitation, upgraded equipment and smoother patient admission procedures.
Senior doctors and hospital administrators present at the meeting reportedly placed several operational concerns before the Chief Minister, including a shortage of staff and pressure on critical care units.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.