Dehradun: Taking a firm stance on strengthening health services in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed for the referral process in hospitals to be made transparent, accountable, and patient-centric. Acting on his instructions, Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar convened a high-level review meeting with Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and Chief Medical Superintendents (CMSs) from all districts at the Secretariat on Monday.
The meeting focused on curbing the indiscriminate referral of patients, improving emergency services, and enhancing the working discipline of doctors. Dr. Kumar made it clear that unjustified patient referrals will no longer be tolerated. Every referral will now require the CMS’s countersignature, and any violation of this process will invite strict disciplinary action.
To streamline the system, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be formulated at the state level and enforced uniformly across all government hospitals via the Director General of Health.
In view of ambulance shortages, it was decided that if 108 ambulances or departmental vehicles are unavailable, local hospitals must arrange alternative transport for patients immediately. The Health Secretary emphasized that timely patient care must take precedence over procedural formalities. Districts have been instructed to maintain a ready list of ambulances and health resources.
Further, Dr. Kumar directed that families of deceased patients must not be made to struggle for transporting the body. If a hearse is unavailable, the hospital administration must ensure respectful delivery of the body using alternative arrangements.
The Health Secretary also ordered that show cause notices be issued to doctors who have not assumed their new postings despite transfer orders being issued on June 13. He warned that disciplinary action will follow for those failing to comply with service norms.
Senior officials including Director General of Health Dr. Sunita Tamta, Director Dr. Shikha Jangpagi, Dr. C.P. Tripathi, Under Secretary Anoop Mishra, and other departmental officers attended the meeting.
