Maravanthuruthu: A family health centre under the control of Panchayat remained shut on Sunday as the doctors and staff had gone on visit. Authorities received complaints against the hospital as the patients and their bystanders were left in lurch.

The OP and the related departments of the family health centre were dysfunctional as the doctors and other employees left for Idukki, in order to visit a government hospital in the district.

A board was placed in front of the health centre suggesting that OP services won’t be operational for the day. This caused severe inconvenience to those who visited the hospital on Sunday. The locals who gathered in front of the hospital started protesting forcing the panchayat members to arrive at the spot to pacify the situation.    

Two employees reached the hospital amidst the protests. “When the hospital authorities approached the panchayat president with the request of granting approval for a group visit to a hospital in Idukki, he had asked them to make necessary arrangements at the hospital inorder to cover up the absence of staff on that particular day, however, nothing seems to be done in this regard. I was totally unaware of their visit to Idukki hospital,” says Bindu Pradeep, the Health Standing Committee Chairperson.

However, Medical Officer in-charge Dr Jyothish Kuttapan said that “a 24 member team from the health centre comprising doctors had left for visiting a government hospital in Idukki, only after receiving prior approval from the panchayat.” 

Meanwhile, Congress workers protested in front of the health centre on Sunday alleging misconduct by the staff at the health facility.