The AIIMS Bhopal has on Wednesday rebuffed the allegation of negligence in treatment, which was raised by a section of the media. In a statement, the Institute said that a section of media has alleged negligence by AIIMS, Bhopal in handling of corona positive cancer patients.
AIIMS, Bhopal strongly condemns such misleading reports and would like to put on record the facts pertaining to three patients with cancer who were found positive on April 14, 2020.
As also informed in AIIMS press note dated April 13, 2020, Imran, a follow up patient of buccal mucosa cancer at Oncology department, AIIMS, Bhopal was brought dead to the hospital on April 11, 2020. His report for COVID-19 on 6th April 2020 was negative. However, a precautionary sample taken at the post-mortem was found positive. Immediate necessary action was initiated by informing the IDSP. Contact tracing was done on an emergent basis, and the necessary screening of all patients and health care workers of the Oncology ward was carried out proactively by AIIMS, Bhopal as per standard recommended protocol. In the screening, only 3 out of 16 patients were found positive, and they were immediately shifted to COVID ward of the hospital. All patients who tested negative have been discharged and are quarantined at home. They have been asked to report back if any symptoms appear. None of 20 health care workers of the Oncology ward were found positive and also have been quarantined as per protocol. The finding of three positive patients in the Oncology ward was possible only because of immediate active screening and strict adherence to the guidelines and protocols by AIIMS, Bhopal.
No information has been hidden at any point, and timely information of positive casesis made unfailingly to the designated authorities by AIIMS, Bhopal.
AIIMS, Bhopal strongly objects to such misleading reports in the media. They not only place undue psychological stress on patients, their caregivers, and health care workers, but also create unnecessary panic and loss of faith in the system and protocols.