SKIMS Emergency Unit: Covid-19 patients kept together with Generals

Hospital Admin contests, says ‘Don’t presume things at your level’

Srinagar: A gross negligence has been reported in SKIMS where hospital administration had kept dozens of Covid-19 positive patients and suspects with general patients and their attendants in its Emergency unit for 24 hours.

According to reports reaching to Kashmir News Service (KNS), dozens of Covid-19 positive patients and other suspects had been kept in Emergency unit of SKIMS Soura for intervening night of July 14 and 15. Sources said, “At least 8 positive patients and 24 suspects were brought here and admitted in Emergency Unit of SKIMS Soura who stayed with other general patients and their attendants”.

They said authorities on one hand imposing lockdown, asking people to maintain social distance; wear masks and strictly adhere upon advisories however the other facet narrates agonized ordeal which has put lives of hundreds into risk.

“The diseases has already created havoc in Valley and forced authorities to re-impose lockdown restrictions but SKIMS authorities seems senseless which admitted Covid-19 positive patients and other suspects in Emergency Unit which often remain packed”, an official said.

He said, “During last twenty-four hours Emergency Unit of SKIMS was packed with patients and attendants, so one can understand how much virus could have spread”.

“In general cases, attendants get also infected from their near ones infection and when dozens of Covid-19 positive cases were staying under one roof, the spread could be unimaginable”, official said.

However when KNS tried to get the fresh status of infected patients, it was found that 8 positive cases were shifted to other wards on Wednesday 04:00 pm while 24 Covid-19 suspects are still lying there with other general patients.

Pertinently District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhar, IAS on Wednesday ordered all Medical Superintendents, Deputy MS, BMO, ZMOs and Medical Officers to impose fine of Rs 1000/- on persons without masks within the premises of their respective hospitals, zones and health centers.

However when KNS contacted Director SKIMS, A G Ahangar, he initially contested the reports and later on said that the issue has not come into his notice.

When asked why hospital resorted to such a grave negligence and put hundreds of lives into risk, he got furious and said I am not a spokesperson of SKIMS, let me to do my job.

“Instead of interpreting the data and presume things at your level, leave it to doctors and let them do their job”, Dir SKIMS said. (KNS)