John Wilbert & Rabindranath Biswas
Port Blair, Dec 08: The absence of Security Guards at Andaman Nicobar Islands’ lone referral hospital, GB Pant, has become a grave concern for the patients as well as for the medical staffs.
According to reports, 58 private security guards were posted at GB Pant Hospital assigned with tasks of security in all the wards such as Labour ward, Children’s ward, General Wards, Psych Ward, security of patients and parked vehicles, parking management, etc.
The security of the patients and the hospital have been at stake since 1st July 2022 when the security men ceased to render their service as the tender of the private security guard expired on 30th June 2022. It has now been more than five months since the hospital authority hasn’t bothered to reinstate the security service in the hospital which is an essential part of the management of a big hospital.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha the general public said that in absence of security guards various incidents of theft and petty crimes in the hospital campus have increased, and it is a matter of serious concern, while the authorities with myopic attitude have failed
to provide a security guard at the Hospital, they further alleged.
The nurses and other employees tasked with taking care of the patients feel unsafe
working in the hospital; sometimes men from the nearby area try to enter the
hospital under the influence of liquor, and under the given situation they have to remain alert all the time, the patients disclosed.
There had been theft cases last year in the GB Pant Hospital in which mobiles, personal belongings and other valuables were stolen from its premises, said a number of people. Complaints to the higher authorities, however, have fallen on deaf ears, they further rued”.
Andaman Sheekha contacted Medical Superintendent of the GB Pant Hospital who said that due to some unavoidable reasons the floating of tender in respect of security service was delayed; however, last month tender process was completed and the work of providing security service in the hospital was awarded to a private company.
The process is in its final stage wherein the Account Section of the GB Pant Hospital is in negotiation with the security agency in terms of the justification of rate.
From 15th Dec 2022, a sufficient number of security guards will be deployed in GB Pant
Hospital Campus and who will provide security to the patients and assets of the hospital round the clock, the MS further assured.
