KOCHI: Notorious for its abysmal facilities, the Government Medical College, Kalamassery, found itself in the midst of yet another controversy on Wednesday. A premature newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was found covered by ants as the mother went in to see the baby during visiting hours on Monday. The father of the child, Anwar K A, filed a complaint with the Medical Superintendent and the college principal on Tuesday stating his child was found to have been covered in ants and the authorities mentally harassed them when they questioned this. He has also demanded strict action against the doctor on duty on Monday, when the incident occurred.
“When my wife saw the ants, we had spoken to the nurses and sorted out the issue. Later, I mentioned this as a passing comment to the doctor on duty. She shouted at me and her brash statement showed a level of apathy which I felt needed to be reported,” said Anwar, a daily-wage labourer who decided on the government medical college as he could not afford private hospital bills.
“It is saddening people don’t realise the seriousness of the issue unless someone is in real danger. Equally disturbing is the fact that a government facility functions in such a careless and callous way,” he said.
Meanwhile, the principal has ordered an internal investigation.“I expect a report on the issue by February 26. We will take necessary action based on it,” said Dr Sreekala, principal of the medical college.
This is not the first case of medical negligence in the hospital. “Earlier, a student, Shamna, and an appendicitis patient, Jerry, had lost their lives due to the apathetic attitude of doctors in the hospital,” said Dr N K Sanilkumar of the Krishna Iyer Movement.