The Hindu : Probe into Governor's death: IMA welcomes Government stand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 28, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Probe into Governor's death: IMA welcomes Government stand

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 27. The State unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has welcomed the willingness of the State Government to conduct a detailed inquiry to the "lapses" in the treatment provided to the Governor, Sikander Bakht, at the Medical College Hospital here.

Addressing a press conference here today, the State president of the IMA, N. V. Markose, said that the doctors had tried their best to save the Governor's life and that the reports that there were lapses in the treatment were baseless. However, the fact that the authorities had not come out with daily reports on the Governor's health condition had created problems, he added.

Reacting to a question on reports that the surgery was recorded in a video camera, Dr. Markose said that there was nothing unusual in the act. "Most of the major hospitals record the surgery. In some cases, the tape is handed over to the concerned party and sometimes kept in the hospital as a record," he said.

"Though the medical colleges have several drawbacks, the doctors here strive hard to give expert treatment for the patients," he said, adding that adverse reports on the doctors in the medical colleges were being created by a section of people with vested interests.

Speaking at the press conference, the former president of the IMA, M. Bhaskaran said that development activities in the Medical College Hospitals in the State were being badly affected as a result of lack of funds. Once adequate funds were provided, most of the problems could be overcome, he added.

The IMA appealed to the Government to take steps for the withdrawal of the Government move to include medicines under Schedule (5) of the Kerala Government Sales Tax Act and to withdraw all taxes on essential medicines.

Dr. Bhaskaran urged the Government to take steps for exempting doctors and hospitals from the purview of sales tax registration.

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