Amid COVID-19, authority’s instructions to follow safety guidelines irks medical staff at Rajindra Hospital

Tribune News Service
Patiala, June 23

Days after the Medical Superintendent (MS) of Government Rajindra Hospital issued directions to follow health guidelines properly, the hospital staff — under the banner of Punjab State Medical & Dental Teachers Association — has strongly objected to the directions, here on Tuesday.

The MS had to issue the letter only after Civil Surgeon, Patiala — in the wake of a surge in the positive cases among hospital staff — wanted the staff to follow safety guidelines.

The Medical Superintendent on June 17 had issued a warning letter saying strict action would be taken for violating the health guidelines.

Criticising the said letter, the association leaders said the office order was “demoralising” for the doctors and other staff.

The association said the letter should immediately be withdrawn as it was in bad shape and was making doctors themselves responsible for corona infection — while performing their professional duties.

Dr DS Bhullar, president, general secretary of the association said at Rajindra Hospital, patients had got an open all side access into the OPDs (outpatient departments), wards and even in emergency.

Consequently, the medical staff was being exposed to potential COVID sources all the times.

Justifying the issuance of letter, Dr Paras Pandove, Medical Superintendent, Government Rajindra Hospital, said, “I issued orders to the staff only for their safety. I wanted to make sure that infection doesn’t reach to other staff members.” 

Notably, Government Rajindra Hospital has become a hotspot for coronavirus after 20 positive cases of COVID-19 — which included doctor, nurses, lab attendants and admitted patients – were reported in a week.

Top officials of the hospital had to be quarantined after a steno of the Medical Superintendent’s office had tested positive for coronavirus.

The doctors objected to the observation of district health department that medical staff of Rajindra Hospital was not adhering to the safety guidelines and violating the safety protocol.

The hospital faculty took it as unwanted interference on the part of district health department. 

Meanwhile, reacting to the development, Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra said he had requested the Medical Superintendent of the Government Rajindra Hospital to tell his staff to take all the necessary precautions.

He said, “After the rise in number of positive cases among the staff members, we asked the staff to take necessary precautions to stem the spread of the virus in the hospital.”

Finally, the association said their duty was to focus on the treatment of the patients, and the responsibility to take care of potential sources of infection coming from outside was that of hospital administration.