In a shocking incident, rodents chewed a patient in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Hospital, Warangal. Following the incident Superintendent of the government hospital Dr B Srinivas Rao has been transferred from the post. Services of two doctors who were ‘negligent in duties’ were terminated, the orders of which were issued on Thursday.
Patient K Srinivas (38) was on mechanical ventilator support in the ICU and was unconscious. He was admitted there on March 26.
Family members were horrified to see blood dripping from the patient and forming a pool on the bed and floor. They lodged a complaint with Dr Srinivasa Rao on Thursday.
State Health Minister T Harish Rao who took serious note of the issue has ordered an inquiry into the incident and Instructions were issued to submit the report by Thursday evening.
The preliminary inquiry was taken up and a report was submitted to senior officials in the Health department and it was forwarded to the Health Minister.
The Health Minister’s office issued an order on Thursday night transferring Dr Srinivasa . Dr V Chandrasekhar who earlier held the post was given full additional charge as superintendent. Mr Harish Rao has also passed instructions to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
Questions arise on how such an incident went unnoticed when an patient in ICU requires round the clock observation by health care professionals.
“Hygiene and sanitation are at deplorable levels at the hospital. Authorities should look into the issues. Besides this, medicines and basic medical disposables are short in supply. Attendants of patients are forced to buy gloves too from outside. Security too should be increased. Earlier assurances to improve it are not fulfilled yet,” said a health care worker from the hospital.
