Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

New pass system at MCH from tomorrow

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Medical College Hospital (MCH) authorities have decided to go ahead with the implementation of the restriction on visitors from January 1, even on the face of stiff resistance from the public.

Unruly scenes were witnessed in front of the hospital on Sunday when visitors, who had been queuing up from 10 a.m. itself, demanded to be let in even though the hospital authorities pointed out that entry passes would be issued only from 2 p.m. With two persons in the queue fainting, many people in the queue forced their way in. As the commotion worsened, MCH authorities decided to issue entry passes even though it was only about 12.30 p.m.

They said that they had put up posters every where in the hospital premises about the new system being put in place from January 1 onwards. Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy has given the green signal to the MCH to go ahead with the restrictions on visitors. By any conservative estimates, about 12,000 persons visit the MCH on a daily basis at the out patient clinics, casualty and wards. One cannot afford to wait for a crisis to happen at MCH before implementing the new system. Issues of hospital hygiene and infection prevention cannot be left to public will, Ms. Sreemathy, had said.

From January 1, only one entry pass (visitor’s pass) and one stay pass will be issued per patient. The stay pass is not transferable. The entry pass may be used for multiple entries.

The MCH has decided to retain the normal hospital visiting hours from 4 p.m. till 6.30 p.m. This apart, an emergency pass will be issued to those accompanying patients taken to casualty.

MCH authorities said that they had about 57 security personnel and that their numbers were sufficient to control the crowds. “We are anticipating a lot of hostility from the public when the new pass system comes into place. A complaint cell will be started near the entry point, which will have one Nursing Superintendent and a security staff, who may, depending on the complaints, allow certain relaxations in rules,” Deputy Superintendent C. Jayan said.

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