PANAJI
Most resident doctors with the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) are forced to stay in rented premises as the campus where the hostel is located lacks basic facilities like a canteen and also has water scarcity issues.
"Most of us resident doctors are renting flats and spending about Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 per month as they don't have a canteen on the campus,” said a resident doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“Besides, relatives of patients and attendants have nowhere to eat in the evening. In the mornings, all staff do not have any place to even have tea,” the doctor added.
The doctor said there are water issues in the hostel.
According to sources, the canteen has been locked since April 2019 following a dispute with the contractor over the fees. Bids were invited in 2021, but no one seems to have taken up the contract to run the canteen.
Sources said resident doctors attached to Unit II of IPHB in August 2020 wrote a letter to the Director of IPHB complaining about the non-availability of the canteen facility.
“But nothing has happened so far. Doctors were facing hardships during the pandemic as outside hotels were also closed during those days,” said the source.
Despite efforts, GMC Dean Shivanand Bandekar was not reachable for his comments on the matter.
