From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Apr 30: Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar, who is on a visit to Bidar district for reviewing the Covid care management in Bidar district on Friday, was furious at the total mismanagement in handling the Covid care arrangements in the Bidar Research Institute of Medical Sciences (BRIMS).
Dr Sudhakar, who is also handling the State’s Medical Education portfolio, expressed his displeasure at the improper use of the medical staff and not providing necessary PPE kits for the staff engaged in the treatment of Covid patients in wards and ICUs.
The minister took the BRIMS Director to task for not properly utilizing the doctors and other medical staff on Covid management work.
Even though the Institute had more than 700 staff, Dr Sudhakar was angry at the BRIMS management for not providing even the basic information on the doctors and staff deployed on the care of Covid patients.
The Health Minister was very much cut up with the BRIMS Director and Chief Executive Officer for not ensuring that responsible medical doctors and staff were not posted for nigh duty. What angered the minister even more was the fact that even the relatives of the patients were allowed inside the Covid wards despite knowing the fact that the disease was highly contagious and there was every risk of spreading the virus.
Dr Sudhakar was also not satisfied with non-distribution of medical kits and necessary medicines to those patients under Home Isolation and non-appointment of persons to monitor the health of such patients.
In a situation of management of a pandemic like Covid, in which Karnataka has been forced to impose State-wide curfew restrictions with the uncontrolled spike in Covid infection cases and several other States imposing lockdowns and other restrictions, the minister said it is the responsibility of everybody to constantly engage themselves in creating public awareness and also in strictly adhering to the Covid guidelines.
All the elected representatives must be taken into confidence. Even infected people from neighbouring Telangana and Andhra Pradesh can and should be provided with treatment as it is our duty. There is need to work in close coordination and tackle the situation, he said.
Dr Sudhakar said it is unfortunate that BRIMS was having more than the necessary strength of Doctors and Medical staff like any private sector corporate hospital. "Yet, in spite of all this, what can be said if Doctors and Medical staff do not report for duty?’’ he said and suggested that final year MBBS and post-graduate students must be deployed on treatment of Covid patients.
“This is a war-like situation when all house surgeons, resident doctors and post-graduate students must compulsorily take part in Covid work. Necessary staff must be deployed for tele-counselling and other work,’’ he said.
The Minister asked the Bidar Chief Executive Officer Jahira Nasim to inquire into the affairs of BRIMS and submit a report, including the non-utilisation of the materials and equipment provided by the government.
He was angry that an essential equipment like the CT Scanner was not functioning and asked why immediate steps to get it repaired were not taken. He directed that the CT Scanner must be repaired immediately and also to purchase an additional CT Scanner.
Bidar district in-charge minister Chavan, MP Bhagawant Khooba and MLAs Bandeppa Kashempur and Nahim Khan accompanied the minister.