Doctors at Patiala medical college and hospital violate protocol; health dept reminds them of guidelines

Karam Prakash 

Tribune News Service 

Patiala, January 4

Amid the rising Covid cases, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital has turned into a covid hotspot after over 60 doctors and 30 MBBS students have tested positive.

Alumni meet, retirement party and New Year party held on the college premises are said to have been the contributory factors in the worsening situation.

The Tribune has learnt that even the administration staff of the hospital and staff from the medical education department had participated in the parties, disregarding the Covid guidelines. And many of those who attended have tested positive.

The departments of radio diagnosis, surgery, and gynaecology are the ones severely hit. Some resident doctors of paediatrics and medicine have also tested positive.

Junior residents, who have tested positive, told the Tribune that hospital staff was not following Covid-appropriate behaviour which eventually led to the situation.

The Patiala Health Department, after a sudden rise in cases, had to write a letter to the Rajindra Hospital to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour strictly. The letter reads: “Doctors, in large numbers, have already tested positive. This will hamper health services at the hospital; therefore, Covid protocol should strictly be followed.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Hans held a late-night meeting with college and hospital authorities at Government Medical College. Hans has been holding a series of meetings to control the situation at the hospital. 

Dr Harjinder Singh, director principal, Government Medical College and Hospital, said, “We are trying to convert one of the hostels as an isolation centre for doctors and MBBS students. Besides, we are planning to send other MBBS students, who have not tested positive, to their homes.”

Later, Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Hans said all MBBS students of the medical college, including positive cases, had been sent home.

The DC said it appears that all cases are of omicron variant. Samples had been sent for genome sequencing.

The DC said this after holding a review meeting at Circuit House.

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