Team Herald
PANJIM: Private caretakers, who are entrusted with the task of providing support and special care to patients, are now suspected to be involved in stealing cellphones of patients and their relatives in the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim.
As many as 90 caretakers are providing their services in GMC and in the past, a female caretaker was caught red-handed while stealing a mobile phone from a ward. Also in the recent incident, a suspect has been captured in the CCTV footage which is being investigated by the Agasaim Police.
When contacted, GMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rajesh Patil said that the administration is now trying to seek details of these caretakers and provide proper training to them in basic nursing care.
Dr Patil said, “I have found about 90 caretakers both male and female in the Goa Medical College and Hospital”.
He said, “I have asked the Agasaim Police to verify the antecedents of these caretakers as many of them are from other States. Once we get their details, we will provide them proper identity cards. We have also proposed to establish a caretaker bureau inside the GMC campus.”
Dr Patil said incidents of cellphone thefts within the GMC campus have been reported to the police. These thefts are mostly taking place in the wee hours when patients and their relatives are fast asleep. The patients or relatives often keep mobile phone charged and go to sleep and when they wake up, cellphones were nowhere to be found.
Dr Patil said that additional CCTV cameras will be fitted in the GMC campus. It has also been proposed to the government to frame rules and regulations and to fix fees for caretakers depending upon their qualifications.
Political commentator Trajano D’Mello said that Health Minister Vishwajit Rane asking the GMC Dean to inquire/investigate cellphone thefts is ridiculous. Has the Health Minister provided the Dean with these expert personnel? He demanded that the investigation be handed over to the police.
Trajano demanded that CCTV installation that was promised by the Health Minister two months ago, be immediately installed and ensure that the existing CCTVs are operational. He has further demanded that the caretakers’ identity be verified and their health be checked lest they carry some infection. And their services be controlled by the GMC administration.