Sweeper turns doctor: Another UP govt hospital in spotlight

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh's healthcare system stands exposed. After Bulandshahr, it is now a government hospital in Ballia, where a sweeper was found attending to patients in the emergency ward.

The sweeper, Rajkumar, was found administering stitches to patients in the emergency ward.

That's not all. Even the pharmacist was injecting patients. And there was no sign of a doctor anywhere.

A sweeper at a hospital in Ballia was found administering stitches and injections to patients in the emergency ward.

When asked, all the Chief Medical Superintendent would say was that sweepers are not allowed to give injections, and that strict action would taken against those guilty.

"Sweepers are not allowed to treat patients. I condemn it if such practices are taking place in the Ballia Hospital," he said.

The sweeper Rajkumar, meanwhile, admitted that they administer stitches and injections to patients. And that they do it at the doctors' behest.

"I'm a sweeper at the hospital. When there are a lot of patients, I assist the doctor with stitches and injections," he says.

Clearly the cases at Ballia and Bulandhshahr may not be isolated. The fear is that UP's health services are just as bad and crumbling in other districts.

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