With the recent case of larceny at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), the hospital has now issued instructions to the guards to remain more vigilant during night time.
The hospital also plans on installing a security lock system and increase the number of video surveillance, closed-circuit TV (CCTV), which can cover more areas including the hospital campus.
Until date, JDWNRH caught five people in connection to larceny with the help of CCTV footage, whereby the culprits were caught and handed over to RBP.
A 21-year- old man was caught on February 1 by the Jachung Security Services (JSS) in connection to the theft of a mobile phone from an ENT ward and stolen cash of Nu 4,000 from the medical ward on January 24. The suspect is from Depthang under Trongsa and is a jobless youth.
Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crimes of stealing the mobile phone and Nu 4,000.
“We are yet to find the buyer and would be difficult for us to trace the buyer because the suspect doesn’t have any detail on the buyer, but suspect said that he can identify the buyer,” the police said.
The suspect was charged with a case of larceny last year and was under detention for two months in 2015. The case is under investigation, and meanwhile police are searching for the buyer, and if apprehended, the buyer is also liable for a penalty.
According to JDWNRH Superintendent, Dr Gongsar Pemba, it is difficult to get to the suspect even though it was recorded on CCTV. “Thieves are always one-step ahead of us.”
He said that in order to make the hospital more safe and secure, they will soon be installing a security lock system in hospital, whereby every staff or attendant will be provided with a card to enter and exit the designated doors to the hospital.
He said, “Today the crowd is huge in the ward. When security is on round checking, the attendants tend to escape by moving around every ward, but once the security lock is introduced, the attendant cannot gain access to other wards apart from the ward card they are provided with.”
He also said that with the introduction of the security lock, a person without a card cannot gain access into the ward at late night. “Robbery does not take place during visiting hours, as everyone will be moving around. It usually takes place when everyone is dozed off, maybe around 3am to 5 am in the morning,” he said.
The tendering on security lock system has been made and the installation will be carried out in the next 6 to 7 months. In addition, Dr Gongsar Pemba said, “We are upgrading CCTV facility in the hospital. It will cover whole building including the old hospital building and campus.”
“The person who handles the CCTV should be more professional and should know how to deal and operate the camera because being unprofessional may lead in deleting the files,” he added.
He also said that it is the individual’s responsibility to take care of his or her belongings. Therefore, one cannot leave their phone on the charger for people to spot it and steal it. Dr Gongsar Pemba said there is a possibility that a person admitted in one ward can also move around to the other wards to steal.
“And avoid bringing cash in the hospital. An outsider will not know that a person is carrying cash, in fact the person stealing cash is someone close to the person with cash,” he said.
JDWNRH allows two to three attendants to each number of patients but this rule is being reconsidered. “We want to reduce the number of attendants staying with the patients in the hospital, but the challenge we face is people refuse to listen to what we say. They even tend to go against the security and start a fight,” Dr Gongsar Pemba said.
In addition, he also emphasized on the misuse of the free WiFi facility in the hospital. There are now plans to remove the free WiFi facility. “It has been found to be creating a nuisance in the hospital.” It was found that a few attendants, usually the youth, come in late night just to use the service and end up fighting over the WiFi.
“Tashi Cell actually provided us the free facility but people misuse it. We provided this facility because people are bored waiting for their doctor or for any appointment, but it seems to be going wrong.”
JSS has been hired to safeguard the hospital property. “If any of the hospital property is lost then JSS is responsible and they will be charged, but patients’ belonging are not included in this.” Currently, hospital has deployed 32 JSS on routine job everyday and deployed four guards for night time patrolling.