Jammu, Dec 28: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakina Itoo Saturday did not mince words while censuring “pathetic state of affairs of patient care and hygiene in the main emergency of GMC, hospital Jammu.”
While expressing her dissatisfaction, the Health Minister asserted that the robust infrastructure and facilities in premier government health institutions was the priority of the J&K government as they (institutions) catered to the needs of poor masses.
She was speaking to the media after conducting a surprise visit to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital, Jammu.
“This is your main emergency. Situation is pathetic. See, you doctors are coming now in the ambulance and the patients are standing outside, suffering,” she told the GMC Principal and Dean Dr Ashutosh Gupta, as he tried to explain the situation vis-a-vis poor hygiene in the emergency and absence of few doctors.
“As per roster, doctors were not there. Number was less. They are arriving now. Hygiene or sanitation standards are pathetic. Hospitals should be neat and clean so that patients can be treated well. But given the scenario, I feel their (patients) condition would not improve but deteriorate. Even a healthy person can turn sick. It is a pitiable state of affairs in the hospital,” she told media persons, in response to their queries.
Itoo stated, “Patient were there in the emergency as paint exercise was underway. Smell of paint is not good for patients. It can add to their health woes. System is not up to the mark in this hospital. We will see what can be done to improve the situation. Doctors have been available here. But some were found absent. Action will be taken against absent doctors.”
“See the government hospitals, whether they are in Kashmir, Jammu, Rajouri or elsewhere, are very important because they cater to the poor masses. Rich and affluent people can go anywhere to avail medical services in top notch private hospitals but poor cannot. So they should get the best of the treatment here. There is an army of doctors deployed here but still I’ve found several doctors, as per roster, absent from duty. This is not correct,” the Minister said.
Later, the GMC Principal said, “Construction is going on in the Emergency wing. Due to Friday’s showers, there was some issue of hygiene. As far as the absence of doctors is concerned, I’ll check the roster. Many doctors were on duty in different wards. We will check and apprise the Minister of the exact status.”
