Rourkela: In a faux pas for the Odisha government, a deceased public health officer was recently promoted and transferred to Sundargarh district headquarters hospital (DHH) as the health department apparently goofed up with its posting order for doctors.
According to reports, Dr. Smruti Ranjan Samal, a block public health officer at Birkera Community Health Centre in Sundargarh district was promoted to additional public health officer (TB) and transferred to district hospital on Thursday. The health department’s order, issued by the commissioner-cum-secretary, included promotions and transfers of several doctors, including Samal, and directed authorities to relieve the medical officers promptly to ensure smooth health system operations amid a cholera outbreak, without waiting for replacements.
The 46-year-old doctor from Rourkela, however, had fallen ill three months ago and died during treatment at a private hospital on April 6. “Samal’s death was reported to the health department, but the communication may have been overlooked,” TOI reported, quoting outgoing in-charge chief district medical officer (CDMO), Dr Guru Prasad Mahanta.
