The State Health Department sprang into action on Friday morning after severe rebuke from Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on alleged shirking of responsibility by the staff of associated hospital of Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) in gas leak case.
The authorities immediately set up an inquiry committee which consisted of the Advisor to Chief Minster, Dr Naveen Baluni, Director Medical Health, Dr Archana Srivastava and Director Medical Education Dr Ashutosh Sayana. A decision to set up a disaster ward near the emergency wing of the associated hospital of GDMC was also taken. It is learnt that CM Trivendra Singh Rawat took special note of the alleged refusal of the doctors to admit the patients of Chlorine gas leakage case and asked his advisor Dr Naveen Baluni to immediately look into the matter. Dr Baluni visited the hospital with top officials of the health department and initiated an inquiry on the matter.
The inquiry committee summoned the Medical Superintendent (MS) of the hospital, Dr K K Tamta and the staff which was on duty on Thursday night. The members noted that the hospital has adequate availability of oxygen and around 300 beds are linked with centralised supply system. It also found out that the primary reason for the not admitting the patients was non availability of the beds and before the staff on duty could make alternate arrangements, the family members of the affected people took them away to private hospitals. Dr Baluni also visited the Mahant Indiresh hospital and C M I hospital and inquired about the admitted patients and treatment given to them. later talking to the newsmen, Dr Baluni said that four patients were admitted in the CMI Hospital while six were hospitalised in the Mahant Indiresh hospital. He said that three children are at present admitted in MI hospital while all others have been discharged. Dr Baluni further informed that all three admitted children are safe and out of danger.
In view of the seriousness of the issue, Dr Baluni directed that a disaster ward should be set up in the hospital and it should have 25 beds with supply of oxygen. The MS of hospital Dr Tamta said that the work on setting up disaster ward in the corridor near emergency wing has started and it would be set up in next two days. The services of this ward would be taken during disaster and emergency situations involving large number of people.