PANJIM: Taking cognizance of the inhuman approach towards patients at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), the Goa State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) issued notices to the Goa government and the GMC dean seeking a reply.
The notices, returnable on September 24, have been issued to Health Secretary and GMCH Dean Dr Pradeep Naik in response to a petition filed by a group of activists. The petitioners Satish Sonak, Valmiki Naik and Arturo D’Souza had sought the commission’s intervention to resolve the issue on priority.
In their petition, they recommended that patients sleeping on the floors in and around the neurology ward and/or any other ward be shifted to other wards where occupancy is available or be housed in the hospital’s private wards and/or in rooms meant for VIPs.
Alternatively, “they should be transferred to other government-run medical institutions in the State where adequate beds and facilities are available. The criteria of allotting beds in GMC should be to those who urgently need the treatment, and not who is an influential person,” the petition further stated.
The petitioners also suggested a centralized system to ensure availability of beds in an emergency so that a patient is immediately sent to the hospital concerned where the bed is available in respect of the treatment required.
As an interim measure, the petitioners sought that the respondents be directed to submit details of number of beds available, number of patients who seek admission every day and provisions proposed to be made to make available necessary additional beds in GMC while the petition is being heard before the commission.
Similarly, an inquiry committee may be constituted consisting of eminent doctors to report on possibilities of cross-infection and other health hazards in event of patients being made to sleep on the floor.
