Mangalore: The State Education S.A.Ramdas giving prior information about his visit to Govt. Wenlock Hospital, was in a shock treatment given him by 49 doctors absent on duty with one among them applying for leave, on Friday noon. Enraged minister asked the top officials to serve notices on the absentees who were not authorized to go on French leave.

He would initiate action (?) against these irresponsible doctors en masse. Then he visited the hostel with his arrival known earlier. The place was dirty and roofs were leaking, the area was cramped with 35 students on each floor. Room doors were damaged. The minister asked for an estimate for repairs, while the inmates complained that the Govt. was not releasing enough funds on time for proper maintenance of medical hostels. He promised to mend the matters.

Ramdas later visited Muller Hospital in Kankanady. Director Fr.Patrick welcomed him. In his address to the doctors, the minister lauded the work efficiency of the 100 year old Hospital and compassionate service available there, which he wished other hospitals in state should have had. The Minister also visited Lady Goschen hospital before going to Kankanady on way.
He inspected the various medical equipments and spoke to the patients (ladies). He enquired of doctors’ availability, neo-natal care unit maintenance and general well-being of the women patients. Having seen the miserable conditions in the state maintained hospitals, he wanted to see the Christian hospitals in Kankanady.
Capt.Ganesh karnik, MLC and Jagadish Shenava accompanied the minister, who wanted badly to reform the functioning of Wenlock and Goschen hospitals and to ensure that all files were attended to. Every hospital he added, should display citizens’ personal charts showing doctors present, treatments provided, surgeries conducted and charges made for individual services.
Minister Ramdas must have felt the degradation in every state hospital that he visited and the inefficiency due to lack of funds and service maintenance problems.