HUBBALLI: As many as 153 patients, who were admitted in various departments of Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital in Hubballi were discharged against medical advice. The discharge started after the private doctors called off their indefinite strike on Friday evening. As many as 153 patients were discharged against the advice of doctors from 8 am on Friday to 11.30 am on Saturday, sources said.
An allegation has surfaced following sudden increase in discharge rate. It is said that KIMS doctors, who practice outside after their duty hours, had convinced many patients to shift to their hospitals or nursing homes for better treatment. It is also said that some were the regular patients of those doctors and they were admitted to KIMS because of protest by private doctors.
Another allegation was that the private hospitals suffered massive loss due to continuous protest and to make up for the lost time, the doctors were allegedly convincing the patients to shift to such hospitals.
Some doctors said: “The rate of discharge seems to be high, but the rate of admission was also high. There is no base for allegations. Due to lack of trust on KIMS, the patients are getting discharged from the hospital against advise of doctors.”
Many patients, who prefer private hospitals for treatment, were admitted to KIMS just because of private doctors’ strike. “What is so great about KIMS. It has lost all its credibility. Those who prefer better treatment will certainly don’t go to KIMS. Moreover, the doctors have no need to persuade the patients of KIMS to shift to our hospital as we have enough work”, said a doctor.
Commenting on this, Director of KIMS Dr DD Bant said: “KIMS is meant for poor people and majority of our patients are from poor background.” “I don’t want to comment on abnormal discharge rate. I feel fishy, but it is against my ethics. KIMS’s aim is to serve the public and during the period of crisis, we handled the situation very well. We are satisfied with the work and don’t want to comment on those doctors,” he added.