CT defunct, repairs to take few more days
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Dec 20: Authorities at Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara today suspended a junior doctor after a video showing a sick patient being taken outside the hospital on a trolley for a CT scan went viral.
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The incident triggered widespread outrage and sharp criticism over emergency healthcare facilities at the institution, prompting the authorities to order an inquiry.
As a part of the action, Medical Superintendent of Associated Hospital GMC Handwara, Dr Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, placed Dr Danish, Junior Resident in the Department of Surgery and also serving as Security Incharge of the hospital, under suspension with immediate effect.
According to the suspension order, the action will remain in force pending submission of an inquiry report, which was directed to be submitted by December 20.
In a separate order, the Medical Superintendent constituted a five-member committee to investigate the incident captured in the viral video.
The committee comprises Prof (Dr) Abdul Qayoom Lone, Head of the Department of Anesthesia; Dr Azhar Masoodi, Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Medicine; Dr Mohammad Sarwar Mir, Assistant Medical Superintendent (Hospital Administration); Dr Harleen Kaur, Senior Resident, Hospital Administration; and Viqar Ahmad Sheikh, Section Officer, GMC Handwara. Click here to watch video
Separately, the Principal, Government Medical College Handwara, also constituted a high-level inquiry committee comprising Prof (Dr) Abdul Qayoom Lone, Head of the Department of Anesthesia; Prof (Dr) Javaid Ahmad Bhat, Head of the Department of Orthopedics; and Prof (Dr) Rafiq Ahmad Tagoo, Head of the Department of Dentistry.
This committee was directed to submit its report by 11 am today. However, at the time of filing this report, the inquiry findings were yet to be submitted.
The controversy erupted after a video widely circulated on social media showed a patient being wheeled outside the hospital premises on a trolley by attendants, allegedly after being denied an ambulance for emergency transfer.
According to officials, the incident occurred after doctors advised an urgent CT scan, which could not be conducted at GMC Handwara due to a technical fault in the CT scanner.
Eyewitnesses said the patient was moved manually after hospital authorities informed the attendants that the CT scan facility was unavailable.
The footage triggered sharp criticism online, with people questioning the state of emergency healthcare services at the hospital.
Responding to the incident, Medical Superintendent Dr Aijaz Ahmad acknowledged that the CT scan machine at the hospital had developed a technical snag but claimed that the patient’s attendants acted in haste.
“The CT scan machine had developed a technical fault, but the attendants rushed out despite being stopped by hospital security. Nobody formally requested an ambulance,” he said.
Dr Aijaz told the Excelsior that efforts were underway to repair the machine.
“The local engineering team is on the job to rectify the fault, and another engineer from outside J&K is expected to reach here by Monday,” he said.
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