Staff told to collect samples, attend OPD
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, May 1: In a bizarre move, the health officials in district Pulwama today directed the doctors and the laboratory staff to do both COVID-19 sample collection as well as attend the OPD as per routine.
The move has come after the Block Medical Officer (BMO), Pulwama issued an order directing the staff, which includes Dental Surgeons and Lab Technicians to attend to the sample collection on mentioned dates and attend to the OPD for the rest of the days.
“…the team of following employees is framed for collection of samples of suspected COVID-19 cases of this block and shall report Block Headquarter Tahab on the dates shown against each. However, during the rest of the days, they shall attend their routine duty at their respective place of posting,” read the order.
As per the order, four teams of doctors and assisting staff have been formed. Each group comprised 3 members each.
The order has come in clear violations of directives from the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir. The DHSK in an internal communication on April had asked all the CMOs in the Valley not to utilize the services of the staff tasked with the COVID19 related work in other routine services.
“During a meeting with the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir it has been decided that staff which is put on roster duty in dedicated COVID-19 Hospitals & COVID-19 related work shall not be put on any other normal roaster and there should be no shifting/ mixing of staff between COVID-19 duty and normal duty,” the order directs all the concerned.
Taking note of the “negligence,” the Society of Dental Surgeons, J&K (SDSJK) said that the authorities were putting the lives of the doctors as well as the patients at risk and it is equal to playing their lives.
Dr Imtyaz Banday, President SDSJK said that it is gross negligence on the part of BMO to issue such life-threatening order without obeying the Covid Guidelines and standing orders from Directorate of Health Services Kashmir.
He also said that the BMO has rendered a casual approach while issuing such order without taking the interest of Dental Surgeons or patients into consideration.
He simply has defied the GoI MOHFW & Directorate’s guidelines. “Such negligence can lead to spreading of Coronavirus & threat to the public, doctor & families of the Dental Surgeons who have aged/ailing parents at home,” he said.
The doctors have stressed that the Director Health Service, Kashmir should to immediately revoke the order and stress for implementation of Directorate order in this regard.
The doctors said that there should be justified sampling roster duties in which professionals are kept in a balanced way and proper training & protective gears are given as per the guidelines. They, the doctors said, should be utilized as per their expertise during the current crisis as per guidelines.
The Society alleged that there are a lot of incidents wherein Dental Surgeons are working as frontline workers without proper administrative quarantine facilities, putting their lives at risk.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Pulwama Dr Mir Haseena said that she was busy and did not respond to the queries from this reporter.
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