Surgical department in need of drastic surgery

KOCHI: It might be among be the most prestigious of government hospitals in  the state with its state-of-the-art services and NABH certification, but the public have voiced several complaints against the  Department of General Surgery at the Ernakulam General Hospital. It has become common knowledge among the regulars here that unless you pay ‘that extra’, there is no way you can get a decent treatment. C Cleetus, who had no knowledge of this unethical practice, had a sour experience. “My son Clixon had to undergo a surgery at the hospital. Even three days after the surgery, no care was given. It was on the third day that an acquaintance of mine working at the hospital told me about the practice. I immediately paid up and the treatment was done in no time,” says Cleetus, a painter from Kaloor.The rates vary with the type of operation and the doctor. If it is atumour, one has to pay Rs500, but for a hysterectomy the amount is Rs 2000.  This is just the doctor’s ‘fee’. A proportionate amount has to be paid to  the anaesthetist, nurses, and other staff present at the operation theatre.“If you are paying `500 to the doctor, you have to pay `300 to the  anaesthetist. Post-surgery, an attender will take a headcount and tell you  the number of other assistants. If there are six, you have to pay `300,”  says Martin (name changed), whose daughter underwent a surgery last week.The lack of treatment may not be the only repercussion that you have to face  if you don’t pay or under pay. “If you don’t pay, you will be asked to buy  expensive medicines and surgical equipment,” says Anila (name changed) whose  relative was  admitted to the hospital on Wednesday. Though the hospital authorities say they have been receiving complaints from time to time, no action was taken owing to lack of evidence.  “We have received complaints. But, it is impossible to take action as there are no evidence. We have put up boards everywhere asking people not to pay. But, people invariably pay. If  the payment is made outside the hospital, we are helpless. Private practice is allowed. So, when a doctor demands money  or is paid in a private clinic or at home, we cannot book him,” said Dr Juneid Rehman,  Superintendent, General Hospital. The Health Department has its own Vigilance wing to deal with such cases. But, technical problems and lack of staff have rendered the wing   dysfunctional. “We can take action only if a complaint with evidence is registered. Investigation cannot be undertaken by us. Only the DMO or the additional DMO has the authority to carry out the probe,” says DMO R Sudhakaran,We largely look at cases that are directed to us from the Department of Health Services at Thiruvananthapuram. Other than that, we hardly get any other cases,” says Dr Haseena Muhammad,additional DMO, who heads the wing.