There has been a constant talk about the lack of healthcare facilities in India, particularly the rural areas. Recently a news channel reported that sweepers and other Class 4 employees of the Bulandshar district hospital perform medic and paramedic duties in the hospital.
The state health minister Ahmed Hasan has ordered probe into reports of fourth class staff performing work of a surgeon and doctors in the district hospital of Bulandshar.
The news channel report alleged that sweepers of the hospital stitch wounds while ward boys administer injections. Both of them are high-risk tasks and any negligence could lead to medical problems like infections and even death. Wounds should be stitched by qualified surgeons whereas the administration of injections is a task that should be performed by a trained nurse. Locals however allege that such shocking anomalies were a ‘routine’ affair in the hospital.
The video showed a sweeper applying stiches on the wounds of a child’s leg. The child had been injured in a road accident. The visuals also showed a ward boy giving injections to another patient. These activities were apparently being carried out under the supervision of the chief medical superintendent of the hospital.
The hospital has 23 doctors on its staff. They were present in the hospital premises when the patients injured in the accident were brought for treatment. But none were present when the ‘act’ was caught in the camera. District chief medical officer SHS Danu reportedly said that at times help is taken from fourth class staff for distribution of medicines.
When asked to react on the shocking incident, state health minister Ahmad Hasan said that he has been informed by the district health officials that the men shown in the visuals are operation theatre attendants. But still, the minister said that he has ordered an inquiry to verify whether those being shown in the news were ward boys or sweepers.
vijay sharma passout G.N.M. and 4 years experience inpaed.hospital iwant to becomeas a staff nurse posting.
Though it is disheartening to see lack of doctors in our system, it is good to see that at least a life was saved in case of emergency without having to wait for a doctor to attend. The child might have lost lot of blood. He might have been attended by non doctor employee, but everything was done on surety under senior supervision as well as only because of the emergency which had cropped up due to an unfortunate accident. At least all patients were treated well and nobody died or suffered unattended like generally what happens in our medical system. It comes as an eye-opener, that more than engineering and MBA colleges, we need medical pass outs to fill all the vacancies. Medical pass outs want to practice privately or with private hospitals. Nobody wants to enter the rural sector for health which is sad. Instead of making issue of a cleaner and authorities etc, we should take issue of medical persons’ shortage in our country more seriously. In time of emergency, even the fundamental rights and duties are put to hold.. not because anybody wants to play with lives, but because emergency decisions have to be taken quickly as priority has to be benefit of the citizens… Which is Safe Life!!
Sir,It is not anew thing ,that the sweepers and otherclass 4 staff attend the functions of Doctors/surgeons or nurse.This is taking place in all states,not restricted to Buland shahar alone.Yhis situation arises either lack of sufficint staff of the staff not willing to work in Rural areas.In this case it is reported that all the 22 Doctors were on duty and available in the hospital.In spite thepresence of such good number of doctors,the class 4 staff were asked to or allowed to do the functions of a qualified surgeon.This more reduclus.It is nothing but playing with the health of patients. All those who have allowed the class 4 staff to perform skilled functions,and the doctors in charge,the head of the instituteall need to be taught a lesson once for all..All the best.Jai Hind-RNDandu