Principal talks tough as Docs allege inadequacies
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Apr 29: Amid COVID-19 outbreak, the state of affairs at SKIMS Medical College & Hospital (MC&H), Bemina appear to be messy with the faculty and the doctors being allegedly subjected to work under “risky” conditions by the hospital administration.
The infrastructure available at the hospital, as per the doctors, is not up to the mark especially that of the operation theatre where the patients, who are already COVID positive or are suspects, are operated.
As per the doctors who wished not to be named, there are all the chances for the operation theatre to be the source of contamination in the hospital as there is no negative pressure maintained in the theatre given the out-dated infrastructure.
The issue has been raised by the faculty members also but to no avail. “It has been a norm that the Principal resorts to harassment of doctors and takes decisions of his own,” the doctors said.
A document stating the minutes of a meeting of the faculty members (committee) with the Medical Superintendent—which is lying with Excelsior—clearly state that it was put forth by the engineering wing that creation of negative pressure in existing theatre is not possible.
The committee, of which the Medical Superintendent was also a part of recommended: “The area needs mechanical devices and completing sealing of doors and windows, which is currently not possible and also the height of the theatre is very low.”
The hospital has been designated as a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, however, the infrastructure and the required manpower, as per the doctors, does not appear to be sufficient as a result the resident doctors are over-stretched.
On Wednesday, the faculty members after they protested against the alleged highhandedness of the Principal, met with the Director SKIMS and raised a few points of concern with him.
As per the doctors the Director was informed about “autocratic behavior of the Principal, harassment of faculty and the things needed to operate as per guidelines.”
In a letter addressed to the Principal on April 28, the doctors of Gynaecology Department of the hospital have said that they are over-worked while alleging that there was a deficiency of adequate staff for daily duties.
They also said that there was no adherence by the hospital administration to the WHO guidelines with regard to the quarantine period for the doctor after they complete their shifts.
“There is no period of quarantine (3 weeks) after duty hours. Lack of basic facilities at the designated quarantine centres; second stage OT and blood bank not as per WHO guidelines,” states the letter signed by 7 Senior Residents and 4 PG of Gynae Department.
The issue of augmenting the staff at the hospital was earlier also raised by the resident staff of the hospital on April 17. In the letter, the doctors had stated that 3 residents are taking care of 96 patients.
However, Principal of the SKIMS Medical College, Dr Riyaz Untoo said that the Gynae Department has done one normal delivery right from March 22 up to April 29 and that they do not want to deliver.
“Look at the work the LD is doing. Those who are doing this do not actually want to work; do not want to deliver and created a scene unnecessarily, out of nothing,” he said.
With regard to the Operation Theatre (OT), he said that there are no exhaust fans there. “There is Central AC. As alleged that no separate entry for staff, it is wrong as a separate entry for OT staff created recently is under use for more than 2 weeks; we have the OT like that of other COVID-19 designate hospitals,” he said.
The Principal said that these doctors have wrongly fabricated a story with regard to the separate entrance of the OT. “They presented concocted facts before the government and before the press. Action warranted as per rules will be taken against them,” he said.
On the other side, the Faculty accused the Principal of flouting the COVID19 guidelines and protocols. “Pregnant patients were shifted from the periphery with only suspicion of COVID19 here; they were admitted in casualty along with other COVID19 positive patients. Surgery was carried out, risking the lives of other patients at the hospital,” a Faculty member said.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel