Health Minister Acts as Doctor for a Day, Attends OPD at RIMS

Ranchi: Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari stepped into the role of a doctor during a surprise visit to RIMS on Tuesday, attending the OPD and personally examining patients. He stated that the government provides doctors with salary and respect, and warned that neglecting government duty for private practice would not be tolerated. “If someone wishes to do private practice, they must resign first. Public rights cannot be compromised,” he said.

The minister, who often introduces himself as a doctor in public forums, appeared determined to demonstrate it in practice—using a stethoscope and treating patients in the OPD. He emphasised that OPD services form the foundation of public healthcare, and strengthening them requires direct ground-level engagement. He announced plans to sit in OPDs across all districts on a rotational basis, interact with patients and motivate doctors. A new OPD roster will be issued soon, with strict monitoring of attendance, punctuality and service quality. Patient grievances will be addressed immediately.

After completing the OPD session, Dr. Ansari inspected several hospital departments and issued swift instructions to ensure uninterrupted CT scan, MRI and other diagnostic services. He directed prompt supply of medicines and urgent repairs of malfunctioning machines to prevent patient inconvenience. Several patient issues were resolved during the inspection itself.

He instructed the superintendent and director to upgrade systems and rebuild public trust, adding, “This is a government hospital — we must make it one of the best in the country.”