Torn bed-sheets at GMC invites wrath of Health Minister

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-06-24
PANAJI - Absence of staff in the radiology department and the large-scale use of torn bed sheets in the paediatric ward of the Goa Medical College on Tuesday invited the displeasure of the Health Minister, Mr Vishwajit Rane, during a visit to the apex medical centre. He also ordered the GMC authorities to suspend a ward sister from the paediatric department for torn linen as well as inadequate bed sheets.
A visibly upset Health Minister castigated the staff for using torn linen, even as he enquired with the patients and parents of children admitted to the ward about the frequency at which the linen was changed and whether medicine was provided to them. He found that hardly a few new bed sheets were kept in the locker.
Stating that over 1,000 new bed-sheets were recently acquired for use in the GMC, he sought to know as to how the linen was distributed and where it had gone. He also directed the GMC authorities to ensure that not a single torn bed-sheet be used in the GMC. He also directed GMC authorities to seek approval for procurement of additional 3,000 bed-sheets to avoid similar situations, even as he called upon the GMC staff to be sensitive to the needs of the people who approach it out of compulsion.
The minister removed bed sheets from nearly half a dozen beds and sought their immediate replacement with good linen, questioning as to why the patients should be allowed to sleep on dirty linen. He also directed the medical superintendent, Dr Rajan Kunkolienkar and the joint director of accounts, Mr Joaquim Teles, to account for the linen immediately and report to him. He also promised to look into the allegation of wheel chairs being “allowed to be used” in lieu of personal gratification.
Some people brought to the notice of the minister the shortage of staff in the radiology department and they being kept waiting endlessly. The minister expressed sympathies with the patients even as he noted with disgust the absence of any person to man the desk and called for immediate posting of the staff to ensure that no one was made to suffer for lack of staff. He also said that some proposals for additional staff were pending with the administrative reforms and finance departments.
Earlier, irked at the absence of a clerk at the radiology department, the Health Minister questioned the professor and head of the department, Dr Mahesh Sardessai, as to why nobody was posted at the desk where appointments for CT and MRI Scans, and other radiological services were given, even as he enquired with the dean, Dr V N Jindal whether any replacement was requisitioned.
Later addressing reporters, Mr Rane said that he has made genuine efforts to improve the health sector in the state. He also said that he has taken the onus of not only improving the existing facilities but also adding newer ones, adding that additional staff would be employed to provide better facilities to the patients.
Mr Rane also said that certain technical and medical posts that were lying vacant would be filled soon, even as he announced that he was making efforts to bring back the doctors of Goan origin who have acquired reputation in the medical field to serve the state and that many of them have agreed to do so.
He said that the poorer people should get the same treatment as the rich man gets in government-run hospitals. He also said that all patients would soon get free medicine in the government hospitals as the tenders for the same have been already floated and that no one would have to approach politicians to seek help in getting medical treatment.
He also announced that neuro-rehabilitation centre would be started at the GMC, wherein three paediatricians, four physiotherapists, nursing staff and attendants would be provided and that a single window system would be set up to avail benefits for medical attention to children, within 24 hours. He also announced disbanding of GMC visiting committee.
Reacting to criticism leveled by opposition party and others, Mr Rane said that they not only failed to do anything to improve the healthcare sector over the past 25 years but also were unable to digest the good work he was doing. He, however, acknowledged the efforts made by Mr Dayanand Narvekar during his tenure as the health minister.
He said that healthcare infrastructure has improved over the past two years and that more improvements would be made in future. He also assured that proper facilities would be set up to treat bio-medical waste. He said that he has been getting total co-operation from the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat to improve the health sector. He also said that during the tenure of his father, Mr Pratapsing Rane as the chief minister better health facilities were created.
The minister went around the GMC complex and also saw the work on renovation of the casualty department, operation theatres, private ward block, etc. He said that around Rs 7-8 crore would be spent on renovation of the GMC facilities.
Meanwhile, the GMC authorities issued new bed sheets to the paediatric department later in the day.