Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

Health Secretary recommends more facilities at ICUs

By M. Dinesh Varma

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Nov. 29. The probe conducted by the Additional Health Secretary, M. N. Gunavardhanan, into the deaths of two patients at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital allegedly due to the non-availability of ventilators, has ruled out the negligence factor even while recommending improving of ventilators and other allied critical care facilities and better inter-department coordination at the institution.

According to sources in the Health Department, the report of the inquiry, which was ordered by the Government following a furore over the deaths of two patients, called for equipping the Medical College with more ventilators at the surgical ICU and other ICUs, including the newly-developed medical ICU.

The report, which examined the list of patients under emergency care during November 3 and 7, concluded that no ventilator was remaining idle during the period when the deaths occurred.

According to the report, while it could be a matter of conjecture that the life of one of the patients, an accident victim, could probably have been saved if ventilator support was available on the day of admission, it could not be categorically deduced that the death was due to lack of ventilator care alone.

The patient, in fact, had died due to multiple injuries and inspite of having been provided ventilator support during the course of treatment.

The death of the other patient could also not be categorically attributed to lack of ventilator support alone, the report states. Turning to the infrastructure at the MCH, the report notes that the surgical ICU is in an obsolescent state and lacked centralised air-conditioning, oxygen supply or suction.

The report recommended providing four ventilators to the surgical ICU and another four to the medical ICU.

It also observed that at least five ventilators are not functioning.

The Principal of the Medical College has been directed to periodically convene meetings with heads of departments to prioritise need for equipment.

It is to be ensured that ventilators or other components of emergency care are neither delayed nor denied to needy patients, the report states.

While stating that there was no apparent rift among the staff and postgraduate medical students, the report emphasised the need for better coordination between various departments.

The lack of trolleys and wheelchairs, shortage of paramedical and supportive staff were also highlighted in the report.

The report directed the DME and DHS to work out a solution to the resolve the staff shortage.

Mr. Gunavardhanan had gathered statements from a cross-section of doctors, nurses, students and the public before finalising the report.

He had also convened a sitting at the Secretariat on Wednesday and recorded the deposition of 15 persons who included doctors, nurses, nursing assistants and relatives of one of two patients who had died.

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