Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a continuing crackdown on institutional negligence and mismanagement, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav has ordered a disciplinary inquiry against 11 medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, for serious lapses at the Gudivada Government Area Hospital. The decision follows a detailed 2020 report by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) that uncovered glaring administrative and operational irregularities in the hospital.

The ACB conducted a two-day inspection at the hospital in February 2020 based on credible information about ongoing irregularities. Their investigation revealed widespread violations and dereliction of duty involving the then hospital superintendent, six doctors, an administrative officer, two nursing superintendents, and pharmacists.

The ACB's report highlighted several troubling issues — lack of oversight in hospital management, negligence in addressing audit findings, substandard quality and supply of patient meals, discrepancies in drug stock registers, and gross indifference to hygiene and protocol.

The report noted that diagnostic kits, gloves, and essential supplies were carelessly scattered across hospital sections like kitchens, pump sheds, and plumbing areas. It also revealed that a non-functional vehicle was retained without disposal while the driver was repurposed for other duties and paid salaries for years, costing the state exchequer lakhs of rupees.

One of the most damning observations was the absence of monitoring mechanisms for patient meals, which led to poor-quality food being served and inconsistent record-keeping of patient data. Further, failures such as not changing bed linens regularly and maintaining inadequate drug records were directly attributed to the nursing and pharmacy staff.

Minister Satyakumar Yadav termed the lapses as unacceptable and emphasized that such indifference towards audit reports, particularly those between 2014 and 2018, was a sign of systemic failure under the previous government. “Audit reports are essential for strengthening systems. We cannot tolerate apathy towards them,” he stated.