In Brief:

• Three contract doctors resigned within a week of Dr Santosh Rai's arrival
• Hospital administration says they quit citing personal reasons
• An employee alleged resignations linked to Rai's directive against working at private clinics during duty hours
• Rai says his priority is to restore discipline and improve services at the 50-bed hospital

GAIGHAT, AUGUST 24 Three contract doctors have resigned from Udayapur District Hospital within a week of a new medical superintendent taking charge and launching a drive to improve discipline and services. Medical Superintendent Dr Santosh Rai was transferred to the 50-bed hospital after the chief's position had remained vacant and the facility had been operating under an acting head. The Ministry of Health tasked Rai with improving the hospital. Soon after taking charge, Rai held a joint meeting with doctors and staff, saying hospital reform would be his priority and urging employees to take collective responsibility. The hospital administration said Manish Yadav, Devika Chaudhary and Purushottam Yadav, all eighth-level doctors working on contract through the Hospital Development Committee, resigned citing personal reasons. Their resignations have been accepted. An employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed the doctors resigned after Rai instructed staff to remain available during duty hours and not work at private clinics while on hospital time. Ending this practice was among Rai's proposed reforms. Rai said he had been sent specifically to improve the hospital and that his immediate priority was to restore it to its previous condition. 'I saw that both administration and treatment services had been affected as soon as I arrived. I therefore held discussions with doctors and employees to develop a collective plan for hospital improvement,' he said. He acknowledged limited cooperation from some employees but said he would proceed with the reform plan regardless. The hospital had reportedly deteriorated over the past year, with medicine shortages, irregular salary payments and disruption of services, while operating under an acting chief. The hospital currently has 11 specialist doctors working under various arrangements, in addition to the superintendent and two permanent doctors.