Metro India News | AMARAVATI

A surprise inspection by Andhra Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Saurabh Gaur at the Guntur Government General Hospital (GGH) on Saturday created a stir among the medical staff. Without prior intimation to any official, the senior bureaucrat walked into the hospital disguised as a regular outpatient, catching the staff completely off guard.

According to hospital sources, Gaur arrived at the GGH OP wing around 12 noon, approached the registration counter claiming he had fever, obtained an OP slip, and proceeded to consult a doctor. After explaining his symptoms, he joined the queue at the pharmacy counter along with other patients and collected the prescribed medicines. For nearly an hour, the Principal Secretary moved across various departments, keenly observing patient flow, staff behaviour, and service delivery.

It was only later that senior officials from the Health Department informed the GGH Superintendent about the VIP’s presence in the hospital. Shocked by the revelation, the superintendent and other staff urushed to the Orthopaedic OP unit, where Gaur was standing like any other patient. Their sudden display of alertness reportedly surprised those present.

Gaur then continued his inspection, this time accompanied by the superintendent. He visited the laboratory, the medical OP unit, and other wings, reviewing the functioning of diagnostic modules and patient service systems.

During the inspection, he noticed a postgraduate medical student speaking harshly to patients and reportedly summoned him for counselling. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the way doctors were writing prescription slips, directing officials to introduce a standardized prescription system immediately.

This incident comes just days after GGH Superintendent Dr. Yasaswi Ramana carvried out a similar undercover inspection on the night of November 25, 2025, to assess staff performance during late hours. The back-to-back surprise checks have left the medical personnel unsettled.

Gaur’s inspection is a part of a broader statewide effort to improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government health institutions. Public say that such unannounced visits help identify gaps in service delivery and ensure that healthcare staff remain attentive and responsive to patient needs at all times.

The Health Department is also examining systemic reforms to reduce errors, enhance patient experience, and strengthen monitoring mechanisms across district hospitals.