JSU ire over shortages at Ganesh Das Hospital
SHILLONG: Health Minister AL Hek has sought a detailed report from the Medical Superintendent of Ganesh Das Hospital on allegations that a pregnant woman was denied treatment even as the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) drew his attention to deficiencies at the state-run health care institute.
Hek said that he has discussed the incident with the Medical Superintendent, N Wanswett, and has asked her to give a detailed report.
Stating that the hospital conducts delivery of not less than 20 babies regularly, he added that it possesses the requisite equipment for the purpose.
“May be on that particular day and time, there was no equipment… even the next day, many deliveries were carried out in the hospital,” he said while maintaining that Ganesh Das Hospital is a referral centre and patients from across the state visit it for treatment.
Earlier on Wednesday, a delegation of the FKJGP also met Hek over the incident.
It may be mentioned that on Sunday, the FKJGP alleged that the hospital refused to admit a pregnant woman because it lacked the tools to perform the C-section.
However, the Medical Superintendent refuted the allegation and said the patient was denied the operation because no sterilised surgical drapes were available at the time because of several other operations performed before.
She said a patient cannot be operated without the sterilised surgical drapes lest the patient gets infected.
JSU meets Hek
Meanwhile, the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) Shillong Circle and central body met the Health Minister on Tuesday drawing his attention to the shortages faced by Ganesh Das Hospital.
President of JSU Shillong Circle Treiborlang Suchen said the additional building of Child and Maternity Hospital on Ganesh Das Hospital premises should be completed to ensure better facilities for the people.
He said that there is only one ventilator for six beds in the pediatric intensive care unit and urged the minister to provide more ventilators.
He added that the hospital lacks facilities to treat babies born prematurely and said the absence of a neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) is a cause of concern.
Suchen also urged Hek to increase the number of nurses and other medical human resources at Ganesh Das Hospital and appoint four Medical Officers (MO).
Meanwhile, president of JSU central body Lawyerson War urged the minister to set up a maternity and child health hospital in Jowai, Khliehriat.
He informed that the Ialong Civil Hospital does not have CT scan and X-ray facilities.
Suchen went on to argue that MIHS card will be of no use if the hospital does not have the right facilities to treat patients.