Doctors on Covid duty in Dhanbad have complained to the authorities about poor facilities at the BCC staff quarters where they have been put up, the issues cited by them ranging from poor upkeep, little or no furniture, and lack of security.

The doctors, who are treating patients at the Dedicated Covid Hospital at Jagjivan Nagar, have written to civil surgeon Dr Gopal Das. They have also raised the issue with the nodal officer of the Covid hospital, Dr Alok Vishwakarma.

“Garbage bins at the staff quarters are over-flowing. Stray dogs have free entry to our rooms leaving behind food leftovers. There are no security guards at the quarters provided to us,” a doctor, who did not want to be identified, told The Telegraph Online.

The rooms did not have adequate chairs, tables and other furniture for doctors to rest, he said. Another doctor rued the lack of entertainment facilities, probably meaning a television set. “How can we work in such a condition? We are working in a highly infectious environment… at least we deserve healthy living conditions,” he added.

Initially, the doctors were put up at a resort, but later, thy were shifted to BCCL’s D-type quarters as rooms are airy and well ventilated. A day earlier, the state chapter of Indian Medical Association had also raised the question of inadequate facilities for doctors, especially, safety gear like PPEs, masks and gloves

At present, six doctors are deputed for a week at the Dedicated Covid Hospital. They are allotted duty in three shifts of two doctors each. After a week of duty, these six doctors go on 14 days of quarantine. During their absence other batches of six doctors take over.

Nodal officer Dr Alok Vishwarkarma sympathised with the doctors. He said the Dedicated Covid Hospital has been established on the premises of the Central Hospital owned by BCCL, and all facilities, including food and lodging, were to be managed by BCCL. “We, therefore, expect BCCL officials to address the complaints of doctors regarding the lack of facilities. Indeed it is extremely difficult for Covid doctors to work for eight hours, that too wearing PPEs,” he said.

CMD of BCCL P.M. Prasad said he had come to know of the doctors’ complaints on Wednesday and had passed on immediate instructions to make amends. “We have sent sweepers to clean the quarters. We have organised furniture, like desks and chairs, both at the hospital and the 16 quarters provided to the doctors,” he said, adding that television sets would also be installed in the hospital and the quarters.