PGIMER takes six hours to admit doctor patient

IT MUST HAVE TAKEN TIME FOR THE DOCTORS TO DISCUSS THE CASE, SAID THE PGIMER SPOKESPERSON

CHANDIGARH: She tested positive for Covid-19 while working at the Sector 22 Civil Hospital and her condition deteriorated while she was being treated at the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16 (GMSH-16). However, when referred to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), doctors there first refused to treat the frontline Covid warrior and then took six hours to admit her as a senior UT administration official intervened, it has been learnt.

“The doctor, isolated at GMSH-16, developed critical symptoms on Wednesday evening. She was supposed to undergo supervised medical care at the Covid-19 hospital at PGIMER’s Nehru Hospital Extension Block,” said a UT official requesting anonymity.

However, when a request was made to PGIMER for admitting her, the hospital refused and “a tussle ensued between the UT health department and the institute,” said the official.

It was only after six hours of negotiations that PGIMER relented. “A senior UT administration official had to take up the case with the hospital and only then was the patient admitted,” he added

The Covid-19 hospital has a 200 bed capacity and is equipped with ventilators. Currently, 12 patients are admitted at the centre.

When asked for a response, PGIMER spokesperson, Dr Ashok Kumar, said, “cases are first discussed by the institute’s doctors and their counterparts in other hospitals before referring patients. It must have taken time for the doctors to discuss the case.” He, however, said he could “not confirm whether there was some issue with the patient. I do not have any intimation.”

Multiple sources later confirmed that UT health secretary Arun Gupta had to intervene in the matter to help the patient.

When contacted, Dr VK Nagpal, medical superintendent, GMCH-16, refused to comment. PGIMER Covid-19 in charge, Dr Vipin Koushal, could not be contacted.