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IMA to frame guidelines

Staff Reporter

IMA members visit SAT Hospital

KOCHI: The Indian Medical Association's State branch will soon come out with guidelines on hospital-acquired infections, which led to the deaths of at least 23 infants in Sree Avittam Thirunal (SAT) Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

Members of the Epidemic Control Cell of the IMA visited the hospital on Wednesday and found a number of reasons that could have led to the deaths in the neonatal department, said R. Ramesh, secretary of the association.

"We do not believe in finding a scapegoat after what has happened. Suspending the Superintendent is an action only to appease the public. We will be reviewing the tragedy seriously," Dr. Ramesh said. He said that a committee of experts in the field should be set up to provide inputs regarding methods to control hospital-acquired infections. However, this did not mean that the Government panel for inquiring into the incident should be undermined, he said. Sunny P. Orathel, president of the Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association, said the incident was a reflection of the apathy of the Government in appointing cleaning staff in hospitals. The Government should not be led by the workers' union protests in such matters.

Moreover, the cleaning staff should be given proper training in sterilising and cleaning of tools and equipment used on the operation table, Dr. Orathel said. The nursing assistants, who helped in arranging the operating table, intensive care units and labour room equipment, should be posted to one ward or unit for a year.

They should be asked to follow sterilising rules and should wear masks, he said.

KPCC flays Government

The alarming rate of neonatal mortality because of hospital-acquired infection at SAT Hospital was yet another example of the LDF Government's failure to ensure safe and proper health care to the common man, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala said.

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