COVID-19: Private hospital in Handwara risk lives of people, no protocol followed

Handwara: A private hospital run in Handwara township of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district was Tuesday found flouting the government norms and protocols amid the global scare of coronavirus pandemic posing threat to lives of people.

Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a private hospital, ‘North Kashmir Nursing Home and Hospital’ Tuesday on being inspected was found without the safety measure items to contain the spread of COVID-19 with owner being reluctant of screening the hundreds of daily visitors.

Officials part of the inspecting team said that a joint team along with concerned Tehsildar was dispatched to check the availability of adequate facilities helping to combat and contain the transmission of Coronavirus, during the checking number of private run hospitals/nursing homes were properly inspected, while at one the hospital, the owner argued with team when questioned about the unavailability of necessary items that help fight the disease.

The owner of ‘North Kashmir Nursing Home and Hospital’ was reluctant to accept that the hospital has to put in place all the necessary items, otherwise the disease can take drastic turn from here and turn to be hotspot and engulf a large population since the vicinity allows entry without thermal screening and masks in absence of social distancing, the officials said.

Dr. Abdul Majeed Block Medical Officer (BMO), who was part of the inspection on being contacted told KNO that during the inspection none was wearing a mask, protection equipment, there was no social distance maintained, people had lined up like normal days nothing as demanded by the prevailing circumstances were put in place risking the lives of whole population and exposing the community to it.

“The private hospital administration has completely failed to adhere to the medical guidelines itself, the nursing home cum hospital is run by a lady (BUMS doctor) who entered into heated argument when questioned about the absence of essential facilities at this point of time”, Dr Majeed said.

He said the vicinity posed like the normal days have arrived and there wasn’t any appropriate step from the hospital to ensure the safety of people that can lead to large devastation, “the spot can turn into new hotpot as they’re floating the norms and allowing people without any screening even some suspected case may have visited there, it may lead to large scale transmission engulfing handsome population”, he said.

Sanitary officer, Shahid Masoodi who also was part of inspection team said that the vicinity isn’t sanitized in proper manner, “when I asked the owner about the chemicals used to fumigate the area, the reply was so funny that I couldn’t hold my breath, she (owner) couldn’t name a single disinfectant even they’re without a fumigator”, he said.

Concerned Tehsildar Dr. Aijaz Ahmad who led the inspection team, told KNO that our only motive is to ensure the safety of people and won’t let them face hardships, now if any any private hospital is functioning they should abide by the norms amid the pandemic disease.

“All the protocols are supposed to be marinated, there should be thermal screening of all, staff should put on personal protection equipment, use of mask should be mandatory for all, sanitizers must be available for use and the hospital administration should necessarily maintain the registry, enroll the visitors that can help in locating everyone in case of exigency”, Dr. Aijaz said

Additional deputy Commissioner (ADC) Handwara Nazir Ahmad told KNO that a team comprising of official was sent to check the adequate availability of essential facilities, “a report will be prepared by the team and submitted to authorities accordingly appropriate action will be initiated against them even if they have used un-parliamentary language”, he said.

The report team files will determine the appropriate action against the hospital, if they don’t have necessary items available at this point of time there will be appropriate action from the authorities, he said.

KNO