‘Docs have no right to make patients suffer’
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, July 25: Fuming over the disruption of patient care at SMHS Hospital due to the doctors’ strike, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo today said an inquiry will be conducted and those responsible will face action.
Speaking to reporters after visiting SMHS Hospital-where she pulled up the Hospital authorities for allowing patient care to suffer and for failing to take prompt action, she said the Government can tolerate many things but will never allow patient care to be compromised.
“The incident that happened should not have happened; it is unfortunate. In the first place, why do such circumstances arise that lead to such incidents, especially in a hospital?” Sakeena said.
The Minister was referring to the suspension of patient services at SMHS Hospital following an assault on a doctor by an attendant whose patient had died. The doctors went on strike, affecting patient care.
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Sakeena was on a visit to the Hospital to assess the situation, after the doctors resumed their duties.
The Minister stressed that doctors must ensure good behaviour with patients and their attendants, adding that there would be no compromise on that aspect.
“Doctors have to maintain good behaviour with patients as well as attendants. People who come here are worried and need to be counselled properly,” she said.
The Minister said that if anyone has done anything wrong, there are legal provisions under which action must be taken, but closing the hospital-especially the emergency section-is not the way.
“Patients had to suffer for want of care; they came here and did not get the attention they needed. This should not happen. There will be an investigation, and action will follow,” she said.
Notably, GMC Administrator Muhammad Ashraf Hakak, had brushed off the “claims” that patient care was hit by the doctors’ strike. He claimed that services were running without interruption.
His claims, however, were contradicted-first by visuals showing doctors stopping people from entering the emergency block, and later by patients at the OPD section who said they were made to suffer due to the absence of doctors.
The Minister said that if one person has done something wrong, doctors do not have the right to make the entire population suffer.
“What is the fault of the rest of the people? If anyone has done anything wrong, you cannot punish everyone for that. Such incidents should have been reported to the department or to the Police instead of closing hospital sections,” she said.
“Making people suffer, affecting patient care, closing the OT and other areas in the emergency-it is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” she added.
Sakeena said she had visited JVC Bemina the previous day and saw a rush of patients who, she noted, had gone there because doctors were unavailable at SMHS. “This is wrong. It will not be accepted and cannot be justified,” she said.
She further noted that while doctors do not possess magic to save patients, they are expected to treat patients as per laid-down protocols. She also urged people to maintain their composure.
On allegations of negligence regarding the patient-whose attendant later assaulted a doctor-the Minister said the matter will be investigated as per norms.
“If anyone is found guilty, action will be taken. Anybody who has done anything wrong will have to face the consequences,” she said.
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