Situation in Sassoon Hospital deteriorates to point of no return

Panic prevailed this morning (Wednesday, June 17, 2009) at 11 in the Sassoon Hospital campus, right near the offices of the Dean and Medical Superintendent, when a horde of people were found screaming an chasing a man, alleged to have stabbed a hospital employee with a knife. Later, a morcha of the employees met the Dean Dr. Arun Jamkar and protested about the failed security system in the hospital.

The worst part of the incident was that though people were screaming and running behind the alleged accused, and asking the security people at the gate to nab the culprit, it is said that instead of stopping the culprit, the security staff at the gate showed cowardice and ran away themselves to save their life.

Some angry hospital staff and doctors were whispering that all this is happening in the hospital due to a failed administration and an incompetent Dean imposed on the hospital by some political leaders and bureaucrats. Patients, resident doctors, nurses, visitors, and even the head of departments of the hospital have been complaining for years about the lack of security in the hospital and students hostel. Nothing has been done to provide a full-proof security system, said a senior head of the department.

A look at the physique of the security personnel in the hospital premises, would make any one laugh. A shabby uniform and weak body structure makes them appear as if they are some kind of street beggars and not security staff. Another senior doctor said that if money is provided for hiring security personnel why not have the best that is available. A security man should have a strong body structure which would make even a criminal think twice of doing a criminal act. Here, the security staff does not even have a ordinary stick, forget arms and ammunitions, which of course are not required.

And then whispers are also doing round making mockery of the Dean of having pulled up one security men to perform the duty as his bodyguard. What is the wisdom of having a body guard for the Dean, was a question that was asked by one of the doctors in a group. The Dean is only making mockery of himself and downgrading the image of the hospital. The bodyguard for the Dean is a big joke. Why does he need a bodyguard and from whom does he have threat perception? Questioned another doctor.

It is high time that the government intervenes and takes serious stock of the situation before getting rap from the Citizens of Pune. From the prevailing situation that exists, it is turning from worst to worst and the only way to streamline the administration is the need to pack off the Dean, the Chief Administrative Officer and the Deputy Medical Superintendent who is incharge of employees affairs in the hospital. These all the three have proved more of a liability then an asset. The earlier they go, the better for the hospital and the medical institution. Let,s not wait for the situation to go out of hand, and then wait for the legislators to put Legislature Assembly Questions (LAQ) and embarrass the government.

It time to act now. Better late then never, should be the moral of the story of the hospital.

Jai Maharashtra, Jai Hind

OPEN LETTER TO HON. CHIEF MINISTER ASHOK CHAVAN

Mr. Chief Minister: Sassoon Hospital is really "Stinking" now

Sir, its the misfortune of the people of Pune to have a badly administered but the best hospital in Asia, the Sassoon General Hospital, clogged in the worst ever situation that prevails now. It's also the people's misfortune to have a highly corrupt and incompetent doctors at the helm of affairs. And the least said about the politicians, be it ministers, members of the legislature, council, members of parliament or even the local municipal councillors. No one is interested at the hell that has been prevailing here for number of years.

The regular media drubbing and vocal and harsh criticism of the hospital management has no impact on a inefficient, highly corrupt, arrogant, incompetent and shameless administration of the Sassoon General Hospital, which has the only 'glory' of being in the news for all wrong reasons, be it corruption, negligence, hordes of scams, illegal structures by private parties or issuing of age certificates at a premium.

Despite an Tranfer Act, which makes it manadatory for every official to be transferred every three years, this has been thrown to the winds. There are several doctors who refuse to leave and stay glued to their posts for several years. Ninety percent of the doctors have remain untransferred between 10 to 29 years, that include the present Dean Dr. Arun Jamkar. This exhibits how good a so-called "most progressive state of the country is Maharashtra," where the law is flouted with an blind eye.

Dr. Arun Jamkar has proved not to be a good administrator at all in the given sitatuation, where he is unable to reign in discipline and root out the 'open' corruption. He has failed miserably to take disciplinary action against those gound guilty, more out of fear. His biggest weakness is that he is incapable of taking a firm decision on any issue and has to depend on his incomptent advisors, that include an allegedly 'misfit' Chief Administrator Officer Bardare and Administration Officer KT Sukase. The most funny aspect is that Dr. Arun Jamkar does not even mind to take the advise of junior clerks.

Sir, do this hospital need such an incapable and joker kind of administrator as an Dean? Certainly not, would be the answer, but then still the biggest hospital of Asia has such people. And then it is whispered in the corridors of the hospital and BJ Medical College, that Dr. Jamkar boasts of your support as well as that of Dr. WB Tayday, the Director of DMER and more of the secretary medical education Dr. Gagrani. People laugh at him when he throws the names of such personalities.

Newspapers every day speak out of the corruption in the corridors of the Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr. PB Burute, about the agents and his lackeys crowding his office corridors. Employees of the hospital, who are his lackeys, are found missing from their job places and camping in the officer corridors of the Deputy Medical Superintendent. The Dean is aware of all the nefarious activities that take place here, but is helpless to root out the things from here. Why is he so incapable to act against the Deputy Medical Superintendent, who is alleged to be 'openly' corrupt? Why he is lacking in discipling him or recommending his return back to the Public Health Department.

Sir,God help the hospital, as there are rumors and whispers of a far greater corrupt medical superintendent coming in soon here to replace the existing medical superintendent. There are strong rumors that this medical superintendent, presently in a government hospital in Aundh is allegedly said to have paid more than Rs. 20 lakhs to get a posting at Sassoon. Just imagine, what performance he would do here then to recover the money he spent to get a posting in Sassoon General Hospital.

The medical education secretary Dr. Bhsuhan Gagrani, who showed intial great interest during the time of minister Mr. Dilip Walse Patil, today appears to have lost the interest, perhaps knowing that everything positive is futile over here.

The need of the day is for your personal interventation into the sad affairs that would ruin this hospital. People are already making noises in the columns of newspaper. And it should be borne in mind that the Assembly elections are not far away. A gross negligence would uproot the apple cart of the ruling party for sure. People cannot be taken for granted. If a govenrment fails to understand the health problems of the poor people, than nothng can save the ruling party from getting a drubbing at the polls.

In the overall interest of the people of Pune and that of the hospital, it is necessary that the Dean, the Deputy Medical Superintendent, the Chief Administrative Officer and the Administrative Officer are transferred and replaced by upright officials with clean image.

Jai Hind
Jai Maharashtra

The Dean Dr. Arun Jamkar has to sink or swim

What is dithering the Dean Dr. Arun Jamkar from taking disciplinary action

Whispers doing the round in the Sassoon General Hospital and the BJ Medical College is about the meek attitude of the Dean Dr. Arun Jamkar from taking strong disciplinary action against the Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr. P.B. Burute.

A little bird says that Dr. Jamkar has a snobbish attitude and a tendency to first act strong and then bow and plead forgiveness from staff against whom he had initiated action. "He is a very weak and failed administrator. Much was expected from him, but that has ended in disappointment. Dr. Jamkar lacks the guts, courage and determination to catch the bull by its horn," said a Professor while discussing Dr. Jamkar in the corridors of the Dean's office.

What makes the Dean crumble, tumble and go on his knees in a pleading motion, is not understood. What prevents him from taking a firm and strong disciplinary action against the Deputy Medical Superintendent, against whom there are huge log of evidences for malpractices, corruption, misuse of power and authority in black and white.

The problem as another senior Professor of the college said that Dr. Jamkar has a crotorie of stupid, idiot and ignorant advisors around him. He does not use his own brain though he is on the verge of retirment. The most foolish and incompetent advisor he has is the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) said a senior Lecturer.

Nothing will improve in the Sassoon General Hospital or the BJ Medical College, until and unless the Dean corrects himself and excercises his authority and power with an iron hand. A feeble and helpless Dean would only destroy further the already deteoriating image of the hospital and college.

Will the government wake up atleast now? The need of the day is for the Honorable Minister for Finance Mr. Dilip Walse Patil to intervene and advise the government to take immediate steps to streamline a falling administration and administrator.

Who will 'discipline' the 'Undisciplined' in Sassoon Hospital?

Shameless have no shame nor dignity in Sassoon General

आपुन सर्वे निर्लज आणि इम्पोटेंट सरकारी कर्मचारी आहोत तुमाला लज्जा नाही

Enough has been written about the BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital in Pune. But even the 'choicest words' hurled at them makes no effect on the shameless and impotents in the administration. There cannot be a harsher word attributed to them then labelling them as 'Thick Skinned'.

Look at the scams, negligence, impotent attitude and shameless against them been leashed into the media, a daily affair now,never seen before.

Glance at the front page lead report in today's Loksatta (Wednesday, June 10) by Mustafa Attar, and also a four column report also in todays Pudhari alleging demand of bribe of Rs। 300 for issuing a age certificate. What more shameful exposure can be expected?

Repeatedly allegations of corruption is written in the newspapers and doing whispers in the corridors of the Sassoon General Hospital , that is taking place in the office of th Deputy Superintendent of the hospital, who does not have a good track record. Several doctors and Administrative Officers have advised the Dean of sending him back to his parent department the Public Health Department, to save embarrassment to the hospital and to halt the tarnishing of image of the hospital. Yet, the Dean, being acting as an 'impotent' being submissive dares not to take this step, fearing the Deputy Superintedent.

This raises several questions as to whether the DMER, the Medical Education Department and the Minister are so helpless that they dont have the guts to usher in discipline and tame this Deputy Medical Superitendent who has been hauled even by the Information Commission for giving misleading information to a RTI activist cum journalist of international fame.

The whole doctors community, patients, the media and even ministers are pleading that Dr. DD Shetty should withdraw his VRS, else the hospital will suffer immensely further. What has the Dean and others done to pursue this patient friendly doctor from withdrawing his VRS? None. All are interested in milking money through illegal means, i.e. corruption and scams.

The skeltons have started falling from the cupboard now, scams are coming out in various deals in the hospital. The scam in coffin cupboards of Forensic Medical Department, where cabinets tendered by a renowned Blue Star company was supplied by a Delhi firm as Blu Star. The illegal one floor huge office of the Sofosh, the illegal occupation of accommodation in the premises without government permission by the BJMC Consumer Credit Society, the scam in the PLA funds worth crores, the demolition of old heritage place without prior approval of the Heritage committe of the PMC - the list is endless. So, it is rightly felt that the Dean is responsible for all this situation and should gracefully make his exit rather than be forced to be held guilty in an inquiry and be prosecuted.

The Secretay of the MED and the director of the DMER should also ensure the early exit of the Deputy Superintendent who is caught in the web or alleged corruption. He should not be allowed to stay for a minute more.

The agents and the peon of the Deputy Superintendent, one Balu, the hanky panky man of the Deputy Superintendent should be removed without delay. The office corridors of the Deputy Superintendent which is crowded with agents and employees who are meant to be in their jobs, should be cleared too.

In the given sitaution, its time that the government takes drastic action to clean the mess and send the Dean and the Deputy Superintendent out of the hospital and BJ Medical College, if at all discipline and scams have to be stopped further and the image of the hospital kept intact.

As this blogger, a well wisher of the hospital and BJMC, had repeatedly said, now or never. Its a wake up call. The NCP ministers in the government should also know that the late events about the NCP in the media is not welcomed by the people, and so it would make things more worst during the Assembly polls to be held shortly, in October.

The Chief Minister Ashok Chavan should set up a high level probe panel to look into all the scams and corruption prevailing in the hospital and college।

Now please read the following news item. It reflects how efficient Dean and other administrative officials are there in the hospital and college, particularly the Dean, Dr. Arun Jamkar, who has been glued to his seat here for the past 29 years, throwing to winds the Anna Hazare proposed and adopted law on transfers.

ऐतिहासिक इमारतीच्या शताब्दीचा ससून प्रशासनाला विसर!

ऐतिहासिक इमारतीच्या शताब्दीचा ससून प्रशासनाला विसर!पुतळ्यावरील धूळ हटलीमुस्तफा आतारपुणे, ९ जून
ससून रुग्णालयाच्या उभारणीमध्ये सिंहाचा वाटा असणाऱ्या डेव्हिड ससून यांच्यासह जेकब ससून यांनी उभारलेल्या सध्याच्या बर्न विभागाच्या इमारतीला शंभर वर्षे पूर्ण होत असताना त्याचा महाविद्यालय व रुग्णालय प्रशासनास विसर पडला. एका ब्लॉगवर मात्र यासंदर्भात तीव्र नापसंती व्यक्त करण्यात आली असून ‘विस्मृतीत गेलेले अविस्मरणीय’ या शीर्षकाखाली या विसराळूपणाचे काहीच कसे वाटत नाही असा सवाल करीत यातून भारतीय मानसिकतेचे दर्शन जगभर घडविल्याची कडवट प्रतिक्रिया नोंदविण्यात आली आहे.
सध्याचे बर्न आणि कान, नाक आणि घसा हे ‘जेकब ससून रुग्णालय’ नावाच्या ऐतिहासिक इमारतीत हे विभाग आहेत. ही इमारत स्वत: जेकब ससून यांनी दोन लाख रुपये खर्चून बांधल्याची नोंद या इमारतीच्या प्रवेशद्वाराजवळ लावलेल्या फलकावर असून तेथेच वरच्या बाजूला जेकब यांचा अर्धपुतळा आहे. त्यांनी बांधलेल्या इमारतीच्या शताब्दी वर्षांत तेथील हा पुतळा आज दुपारी साडेबारापर्यंत धुळीने माखलेल्या अवस्थेत पाहायला मिळाला. मात्र, इमारतीच्या शताब्दीचे हे वर्ष असल्याचे लक्षात आलेल्या प्रशासनाने सावध पवित्रा घेत तातडीने कर्मचाऱ्यांद्वारे त्या पुतळ्यावरील धूळ हटविली आणि तेथील जागा स्वच्छ करण्याचा शहाणपणा दाखविला.
एका ब्लॉगवर जेकब ससून यांनी बांधलेल्या इमारतीच्या शताब्दीवर्षांचा महाविद्यालय व रुग्णालय प्रशासनास विसर पडला असल्याचे स्पष्ट केले आहे. ‘‘त्यावेळचे दोन लाख रुपये (आजचे वीस कोटी रुपये) खर्चून त्यांनी ही ऐतिहासिक समजली जाणारी इमारत बांधली. त्याबरोबरच कित्येक एकर जागा आणि इमारतीही त्यांनी बांधून या रुग्णालयास देऊ केल्या. जेकब ससून यांनी बांधलेल्या इमारतीच्या शताब्दीनिमित्ताने ‘विस्मृतीत गेलेले अविस्मरणीय जेकब’ यांची किमान आठवण तरी शासनाच्या वैद्यकीय शिक्षण खात्यासह रुग्णालय व महाविद्यालय प्रशासनाने ठेवणे आवश्यक होते. मात्र या इमारतीत असलेला त्यांचा पुतळ अंधारात तसेच तो धुळीने माखल्याचे पाहायला मिळते. त्यामुळे त्यांचा प्रशासनास साफ विसर पडला आहे,’’ असे स्पष्ट करीत ब्लॉगवर नाराजी व्यक्त करण्यात आली आहे. ससून यांनी बांधलेल्या इमारती व त्यांच्या कार्यास शताब्दी झाल्याने त्याचे जगभर कौतुक होत आहे. मात्र, भारतात त्याचा विसर पडल्याचे प्रशासनाकडून भारतीय मानसिक तेचे दर्शनच घडविण्यात आल्याचे यात म्हटले आहे. जेकब यांनी दिलेल्या योगदानाचे कौतुक म्हणून की काय वैद्यकीय शिक्षण खात्याचे सचिव डॉ. भूषण गगराणी आणि अधीष्ठाता डॉ. अरुण जामकर यांच्यासह प्रशासनही त्यांना विसरले की काय असा सवाल करण्यात येऊन त्याबाबत ब्लॉगमध्ये कडक शब्दात नापसंती व्यक्त केली आहे.
महाविद्यालयाचे अधीष्ठाता डॉ. अरुण जामकर यांच्याशी संपर्क साधून ‘लोकसत्ता’च्या प्रतिनिधीने ही वस्तुस्थिती निदर्शनास आणून दिली. त्यावर तातडीने त्यांनी पुतळ्यावरील धूळ हटवून तेथे स्वच्छता केली. त्यानंतर पुतळ्यास हार घालण्यात आल्याचे सांगितले. मात्र, शताब्दीनिमित्त काय करणार या विषयी विचारता ‘आम्ही रुग्णसेवेची शपथ घेतो’ या खेरीज अधिक बोलू शकले नाहीत.

Now its left to the 350 subscribers of this blog to think of the mess in Sassoon and BJ Medical College.

More revelations of the stink issues of the hospital soon, for sure.

The Forgotten 'Unforgetable" Jacob Sassoon

The Forgotten "Unforgetable" Jacob Sassoon

What a shame for all of us, particularly for the Maharashtra Government and the BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, that we showed ungratefulness to a great Jewish personality Jacob David Sassoon, whose centenary is being celeberated 1909 - 2009 the world over. And we never thought of even thinking of this person who constructed a beautiful building in the Sassoon General Hospital more than a century ago, and which now houses the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgical Theatre and the Burns Ward. More than 120 plus years ago he constructed this building at a cost of Rs. 2,00,000, which may now be more than 20 core in Indian Rupees.

And what did we give him in return as a gratitude for his contribution? Nothing except to forget him for ever. Even his statue in the building is covered with dust and darkness. Did he deserve this reward for his contribution to the Indian people?

Ignoring Jacob Sassoon, and his father David Sassoon for the donation of several acres of land and several beautiful buildings in the Sassoon General Hospital, exhibits our mentality, tendency and ungratefulness. The message goes around to the world about the Indian mindset and only invites criticsm and slurs the image of our country. But then, who is interested in what the world says about the Indians? We are thick skinned, is the message that goes to the global community.

Forgetting a person like Jacob Sassoon, is a graveous mistake. We cannot get away with the idiom of saying "People's memory is short." This is not only gross negligence on part of the officials of Sassoon General Hospital, but a serious error on part of the officials which deserves no forgiveness but punishment and more condemnation.

Dr. Bhushand Gagrani, Sir, how do you guage this negligence? You have handled a vital department like Tourism, wrote several articles on monuments, heritages, and tourist spots, and thus know the significance of such heritage buildings as of Sassoon General Hospital. Don;t you feel that forgetting Jacob Sassoon during his centenary year is a serious lapse? Don't you feel that this ignorance will put all the Indians to shame and disgrace in the world community? And don't you agree that the officials of Sassoon General Hospital have put the government and the people of India in an embarrassing situation? In my view and in the view of the people at large, yes, it would. Then in an age of accountablity, is it not fair to take necessary action against all those who failed on this front to remember the contribution of Jacob Sassoon in his centerary year which the world is celeberating?

And Dr. Arun Jamkar, this is not the time for you to smile as in the picture. Sir, I had written last time in an earlier blog, that if you are happy receiving bouqets than you should also be prepared to be hit by brickbats for your flaws. Unfortunately, you cannot escape the responsibility of not knowing important historical events associated with the BJMC or the Sassoon General Hospital. As head of the institution and hospital, and more as an administrator, you who has the distinction of serving the hospital for about 30 years, which unfortunately, no other doctor in the hospital holds this distinction, and again, for which you should have not been there according to the law, you cannot absolve yourself from missing out on such an important event.

The problem, as I explained earlier, that you are too busy grooming yourself with flattery and self praise, though you are very weak, to be precise extremly weak on administration front. It would not be wrong to describe you as a 'meek and week' administrator who has no time for uplifting the image of the hospital or knowing what are the important significans of places in the campus. The other problem with you is that you waste your time, energy and talent in involving your self in petty and unproductive politics, playing one professor against another, double speak, incompetent to take strong disciplinary action, not willing to correct yourself and use your skills and political connections to benefit the hospital or the BJMC. Regretfully you are surrounded by illeterate advisors, who tax your brain with their useless and wrong advises to force you make silly and foolish decision, which you later try to retract. You remain fickle minded and so remain a confused person. And rememeber that you have a long way to go. The Avtaar Meher Baba people are roosting for you. They are approaching the Tatas to help them with their issues. You have cooked the Ghoose, Dr. Jamkar.

Forgetting a person like Jacob Sassoon on his centerary, and not remembering him even to this day, makes you unfit to be in the saddle of a Dean and head of the hospital. And now accept the blame gracefully instead of passing the buck on others. The Sassoon Hospital is suffocating. Heritage sites are being demolished to make way for NGOs like Safosh. All this is happening during your tenure. And God knows why the Chief Minister throwing all norms and rules to the wind thought you fit again to head the BJMC and Sassoon General Hospital. And mind well, there are still enough pitfalls for you. Dont leap and shed your tears on the shoulders of others, particularly the CM or the Secretary. Don;'t fire the guns from their shoulder.

You have a very short tenure left, then do something good for the institation and hospital, and depart holding your head high. Look around and see where the best can be done, instead of self patting your back. Stop all the politics and sycophancy. Be upright and honest and execute your work with dignity and justice to all. Don;t bother the CM or the Secretary without your nagging disinformation notes, but make them feel proud of you. Yes agreed, you are a fine gentleman, goody-goody speaking, but not able to take proper and just decisions in any administrative issues.

Now please dont become a liability for others, again for the CM or the Secretary. And dont nag them with your woes and problems. They have more important things to do, rather than spare time for your illogical rattlings. Please, please, do some constructive work, Sir.

All is Well that Ends Well

All is Well that Ends Well

Alas!! Finally the strike by a group of disgruntled resident doctors of Sassoon General Hospital in Pune, has come to an end with victory for the Dean Dr. Arun Jamkar and disgrace for the group, with even their own Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors main body supporting the Dean.

CONGRATS Dr. Jamkar, but then this victory would not have been achieved without the support of the Secretary of Medical Education Department Mr. Bhushan Gagrani, the Directorate of Medical Education (DMER) the local politicians in Pune, the Head of Departments of Surgery and Chest and TB, Dr. Sanjiv Thakur and Dr. Ghorpade and above all the most from the support of the people of Pune and the Class III and IV employees Association of the hospital.

It's shame on part of this group of disgruntled resident doctors to have held hostage the 300 other resident doctors of the hospital who did not want to participate in the strike as they rightly felt that there was no issue at all to go on strike. It was also shame that poor patients were also held hostage as they were deprived treatment. The lady resident doctor who is alleged to have made attempt to commit suicide had not reason whatsoever to do so. Why did she made all this drama? Who instigated her to enact these scene? And did she really gulp down the pioson at all? Whispers in the corridor say that she just sprayed the HIT mosquito on her clothes and did not gulp down any pioson. If this whispers is correct, then the most severe action should be taken against her including cancelling her registration.

The DMER should also take drastic action against the disgruntled group of resident doctors that called for the strike. The call of the day is that they deserve no sympathy or leinency but that the DMER should suspend them for a year and even ask them to vacate the hostel. They deserve this punishment, and the Dean should initiate this action without delay. Discipline has to be maintained at all costs. These doctors had turned into goons, and tarnished the noble profession.

To Dr. Jamkar, the people of Pune would defintely like to convey that he has to uphold the prestige of the hospital and BJ Medical College. He has a duty to instil discipline in all sections, and that is the task of a good administrator.

Sir, if there is today bouquets for your good work, but then also be prepared for the brickbats if you fail in your duties and performance. You have to like bureaucrats must know to adopt the carrot and stick policy. Good and upright administrators do not buckle under any kind of pressure or have any fear. You must learn to dispense with justice and not get carried away by hearsay or disinformation or misleading guidance by your subordinates, but use your skills and brain to battle any storm.

And then you have to get rid of the insubordination by the Deputy Superintedent and the alleged corruption that prevails in his office and boot out the large number of agents that throng his office and employees that hang around. And with you being the authority there, what prevents you from making changes in the peons that loom around there, particularly the peon of the Deputy Superintendent one Balu, who is the mastermind behind corruption that takes place there?

Certainly, the hospital does not require a non-performing Deputy Medical Superintendent, who is good for nothing and unable to discharge his duties and job for which he is there. Why prevents or holds you back from recommending to send him back to his parent department and seeking a more performing official? Now or never, is the final message Dr. Jamkar. You will always find support for your good work and streamlining the disorder that has been taking place in the hospital for years,

All the best to you Dr. Arun Jamkar, You have this time proved that nothing is the end of the world if determined and one has a will.

Jai Maharashtra, Jai Hind