No Negligence in Patient Care will be Tolerated, says Minister
Health Minister conducts surprise inspection of Civil Hospital, Panchkula, Expresses displeasure over sanitation arrangements
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana Health Minister, Aarti Singh Rao on Wednesday carried out a surprise inspection of the Civil Hospital located in Sector-6, Panchkula. During the visit, she visited various wards of the hospital, interacted with patients undergoing treatment and sought feedback on the quality of healthcare services. She also issued necessary directions to the Director General, Health Department, and the Civil Surgeon.
During the inspection, the Health Minister visited the emergency ward, labour room, NICU ward, OPD, ICU, ENT and Orthopaedic departments, among other sections of the hospital. She interacted with patients and their attendants and sought information regarding treatment, availability of medicines and other facilities. Most patients expressed satisfaction with the behaviour and services of the doctors and nursing staff.
Aarti Singh also inspected the Jan Aushadhi Centre operating under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana in the hospital and reviewed the availability of medicines there. She directed her staff to visit different counters and verify whether medicines were available as per requirement.
However, the Health Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the hospital’s sanitation and security arrangements. She observed that despite around 16 to 17 sanitation workers being deployed at the hospital, there was no clear record of their assigned duties and workplaces. Taking serious note of the matter, she directed the officials to immediately streamline the system and said that the government is also considering placing the sanitation system under the PPP mode in the future to further improve cleanliness arrangements.
Emphasising that cleanliness in hospitals must be treated as the highest priority, the Minister instructed the Civil Surgeon to ensure that the air-conditioning system in the hospital is properly maintained, particularly keeping the approaching summer season in mind, so that patients coming from distant areas do not face inconvenience.
During the inspection, the Minister also reviewed the security arrangements in the women’s ward and said that ensuring the safety of female patients is of paramount importance. She directed the hospital administration to deploy additional security personnel, wherever required, in the women’s ward and other sensitive areas so that women patients receive treatment in a safe and respectful environment.
The Health Minister also inspected the hospital’s newborn ward and reviewed the arrangements for the care of infants admitted there. During the visit, she appreciated the efforts of the doctors and nursing staff working in the ward, expressing satisfaction over their work.
During the inspection, some patients also complained that medicines were being prescribed from outside the hospital. Taking immediate cognisance of the matter, the Health Minister summoned three doctors and issued strict directions to the hospital administration that medicines available in the hospital must be provided to patients from within the facility itself. She made it clear that prescribing medicines from outside without valid reason will not be tolerated at any cost.
Referring to issues related to the hospital building, the Minister said that complaints had been received regarding water leakage from the ceilings in some wards. She said that she would request Public Works Minister Sh. Ranbir Singh Gangwa to ensure that repair work is carried out at the earliest. She also directed officials to start services in the new hospital building at the earliest.
The Health Minister further said that as per the directions of CM Nayab Singh Saini, special emphasis is being laid on cleanliness, improved healthcare services and particularly the safety of women in all government hospitals across the state. She also directed the Director General, Health Department, to provide a detailed list of sanitation workers deployed in the hospital at the earliest.
Later speaking to the media, the Health Minister said that it is the moral responsibility of doctors and healthcare personnel to conduct examinations and treatment of patients with complete honesty and dedication. She said that any negligence in the examination or treatment of patients will not be tolerated.
On this occasion, Director General, Health Department, Dr. Manish Bansal, Civil Surgeon Dr. Mukta Kumar along with doctors and officials from various departments of the hospital, were present.