THENI: Three sanitary workers with the Theni Government Medical College Hospital were suspended for reportedly giving treatment to patients and for charging them money, on Sunday.
Initially, it was alleged that few workers were injecting medicines and giving intravenous fluid to patients. After the news went viral in social media on Thursday, the Health and Family Welfare department directed the medical college authorities to inquire into the issue. A preliminary investigation was conducted with a team of doctors, including few Resident Medical officers and doctors of Theni GH. After initial inquiry, the dean concluded that the allegations were false. However, a team of officials from the Directorate of Medical Education after inquiry found that three sanitary workers were indeed guilty, following which they were suspended,” said the hospital dean.
Dr Thirunavukarasu, Dean, Theni GH, said, told Express, “After the reports of sanitary workers giving treatment appeared in media, we were directed to conduct a second inquiry.
This time, the DME officials were also part of the investigating team. We found that three sanitary workers were giving treatment like giving injections and bandaging wounds and suspended them. The inquiry is still going on and action will be taken if any outsourced workers is found providing treatment or doing some work other than what is assigned.”
It is to be noted that various sanitary works at the hospital are outsourced to private agencies, who provide contractual staff for housekeeping and cleaning works.