Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Apr 3: At District Hospital Shopian in South Kashmir doctors accused administration of putting their lives at risk by providing them with “sub-optimal” protective gear like Personal Protective Equipment, masks, and hand gloves.
The doctors told Excelsior that they have been provided with locally made gowns that resemble raincoats and sub-standard gloves in the name of protection.
Besides, they said, the PPE kit lacks goggles and N 95 masks are also below par. “We have been asked to wear some locally made and disposable gowns which are not in line with what doctors and paramedical need in COVID 19 crisis. By providing us substandard material they are putting our lives at risk. We are the first line of defense, if we are not guarded who will ensure the safety of patients, “a doctor said, requesting not to be named.
Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Ghulam Mohammad, told Excelsior that the recommended PPEs have been dedicated to the respiratory unit of the hospital where suspected COVID 19 patients would first report. “High-quality suits are exclusive for COVID unit while as other suits are provided to staff of other units. And those suits are also high end and costs nearly Rs 1000 per suite,” he said.
Contradicting his claims, a doctor from the respiratory unit of the hospital said their suits are not different from the ones worn by others in the hospital. “We wear the same gowns. We should have been provided with PVC lined overalls, goggles and multiple layered masks as we have high chances of catching this infection,” he said.
Reacting to the claims of the Medical Superintendent regarding the availability of special suits for COVID 19 unit, he said that they have neither seen them nor aware of their availability. “By denying us suits they are putting us vulnerable to these highly contagious diseases,” the doctor said.
Last week a patient tested positive in the hospital. “He came here for urinary tract infection and was in the general ward for a day or two. We advised him to go for a test upon learning about his travel history. Subsequently, he tested positive for COVID 19 at Pulwama hospital. He was then shifted to JLNM hospital,” a doctor who received him said.
The doctor asked who would ensure the safety of the doctors who treated him until he tested positive. “I referred him at that time and I was wearing nothing. He was in the general ward. He was examined by many doctors who were not wearing any protective gear. The administration is putting all of them at risk,” he said.
Asked about the availability of stock in the hospital MS informed that the hospital has sufficient stock for this month. “We have 200 N95 masks, some 10,000 triple layer masks and some 600 suits available in the hospital today. Until patient load remains less, only 5-6 suits are required,” he said.
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