The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Inquiry into state of affairs in VIMS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 19, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Inquiry into state of affairs in VIMS

Staff Reporter

`Situation in the hospital is shocking'

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BANGALORE: Upa Lokayukta G. Patri Basavana Goud has ordered an investigation into "the bad state of affairs" of the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences in Bellary.

Mr. Goud has asked C.S. Hanumantappa, former Medical Superintendent of Jayanagar Government Hospital and a member a Committee constituted by High Court to look into the condition of government and autonomous hospitals; and R. Chandrashekara, former Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, to investigate the matter.

Mr. Goud and Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde found several irregularities during their visit to VIMS on January 11. Both had been to the hospital at 8.15 p.m. with two injured persons who were found on the roadside. One of the injured persons who was unconscious was taken to the casualty ward.

Here they found that Vijaya Shankar, the Casualty Medical Officer, had not reported for duty at 8 p.m. The duty doctor, who came a few minutes later, said he was late as he was attending to a patient in the Intensive Care Unit. But on enquiry it was found the duty doctor had given a false statement.

Further Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta found that there were eight other specialists in the hospital. There was confusion whether these specialists stayed at the hospital for fixed duty hours in a day or had come only when called.

The hospital had no arrangements to relieve one casualty medical officer and put another on duty after completion of one's duty hours. "The situation in the hospital is most unfortunate and utterly shocking," Mr. Goud said.

The Upa Lokayukta used his powers under Section 15 (3) (b) of Karnataka Lokayukta Act and sought the services of Dr. Hanumantappa and Dr. Chandrashekara for investigating the issue.

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