Kanpur DM's Surprise Inspection Exposes Grave Lapses at Uttaripura Health Centre
In a startling revelation of administrative negligence, District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh conducted an unannounced inspection of the Uttaripura Primary Health Centre (PHC) on Tuesday afternoon. The surprise check uncovered a series of serious lapses in the facility's operations and management, prompting immediate disciplinary action and directives for systemic overhaul.
Staff Absenteeism and Salary Deductions Ordered
The inspection revealed a severely understaffed facility, with only three out of seven employees present during duty hours. Dr Preeti Sachan, the Medical Officer; Ramanuj, the Ward Boy; and Jyoti, the Staff Nurse were all found absent without proper authorization. The District Magistrate issued strict instructions to deduct one day's salary from each of these absent employees as a disciplinary measure.
Furthermore, while Chief Pharmacist Ashok Srivastava had submitted a leave application, it was discovered that this application was neither properly registered nor officially approved. Considering this procedural irregularity, Singh ordered that Srivastava's salary also be deducted for one day, emphasizing that proper leave protocols must be followed without exception.
Record-Keeping Violations and Operational Deficiencies
The inspection uncovered multiple violations in patient record-keeping standards. The OPD register was found to be non-compliant with government-prescribed standards, specifically failing to record mobile numbers alongside patient names as mandated by regulations.
Dr Sarita Katiyar, the AYUSH physician present at the centre, was found using an alternative register instead of the prescribed official document. This unauthorized register also lacked the required mobile number entries for patients. The District Magistrate has directed that Dr Katiyar provide a formal explanation for this deviation from established procedures.
Additional operational deficiencies included a non-functional biometric attendance system and unsatisfactory cleanliness conditions throughout the premises and rooms. The poor maintenance and hygiene standards raised serious concerns about the overall quality of healthcare services being provided to the public.
Supervisory Failures and Accountability Measures
The role of supervisory officers came under intense scrutiny during the inspection. The District Magistrate questioned why regular monitoring had not been conducted by responsible authorities. Specifically, explanations were sought from both the Medical Officer In-Charge (MOIC) of the Community Health Centre in Bilhaur and the in-charge Additional Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) for their failure to ensure proper oversight.
Singh made it unequivocally clear that such laxity in health centre arrangements would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He issued a stern warning that similar negligence would result in more severe consequences for all responsible parties.
Systemic Reforms and Future Monitoring
To prevent recurrence of such lapses, the District Magistrate has directed the Chief Medical Officer to implement comprehensive reforms. These include:
- Ensuring regular review and monitoring of all health centres across the district
- Establishing clear accountability at the MOIC level for facility management
- Implementing immediate improvements in record-keeping, staff attendance, and cleanliness standards
- Developing a robust system for tracking and approving leave applications
The surprise inspection has highlighted critical gaps in healthcare administration that require urgent attention and systematic correction to ensure proper healthcare delivery to Kanpur's residents.
