Whither GMCH?

The lead news story on the front page of this newspaper on Friday has a very disturbing story – All is not well in the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH). According to what our reporter has gathered, over 70 patients have died at the largest government hospital of the region during the past three months due to alleged negligence of a section of doctors there. What has been stated is that while all these 70 patients who met their death in GMC Hospital were not suffering from COVID-19, but from various other ailments which had nothing to do with the pandemic. It has been stated, based on what sources have alleged, that a section of doctors working at GMCH has been reluctant to treat patients suffering even from other ailments since the outbreak of coronavirus. In many instances, serious patients suffering from various ailments and requiring emergency life-saving support were not even admitted, while those who were admitted allegedly did not get any necessary care and treatment. Two such instances that have been doing the rounds among concerned citizens involve the death of a paramilitary personnel and also that of a former senior officer of the Assam government's law department. Both of them died in the GMCH allegedly without receiving any treatment at all. The incident of death of the paramilitary personnel belonging to one of the several forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs is stated to have been reported to the MHA, which in turn drew the attention of the state Health Minister. The latter, who has earned a name for himself for leading from the front the on-going battle against COVID-19, has thus ordered an immediate reshuffle in the GMCH, shunting out the incumbent Superintendent, placing the head of the Medicine department under suspension and appointing a new Principal. Going by the story that this newspaper carried on the front page on Friday, the Health Minister issued a "veiled warning" to the GMCH doctors to perform their prime responsibility of serving patients well. One must admit that the condition, facilities and services at the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital have undergone drastic positive changes in the past few years. But then, the mindset and attitude of individuals – including a section of doctors too – continue to remain the same, thus bringing a bad name to a hallowed institution, and more than that, leading to suffering and even death of patients who go there seeking the best of treatment available in the entire region.