THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Welcoming the decision of
Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) to host an interactive session on redressing health care issues, medical negligence and accidental deaths, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for training the ambulance staff and to ensure that medical fraternity ensures justice to the patients. The CM also informed that 170 PHCs in the state will be converted to Family Health Centres with better facilities and adequate staff while inaugurating a seminar organised by KSHRC.
Recalling the recent incidence in the state when a seriously injured patient was held upside down in a stretcher by ambulance staff, chief minister said the incidence underscores the need for training ambulance staff in patient care. It was a proud moment to know that Kerala has bagged the first place in health care sector according
NITI Aayog with the rating at 76.55 percent, yet there are lapses in terms of high rate of accidental deaths in the state and lapses in medical treatment which needs to be checked. "The primary health centres (PHCs) in the state will be improved ensuring better facilities and staff. The 170 PHCs in the state will be transformed to Family Health Centres (FHCs) with all facilities and creating 4800 new posts. FHCs will be equipped with adequate facilities and doctors to address the health issues of each family," he said.
Based on complaints from patients against some private hospitals, KSHRC had directed to install
CCTV cameras in ICUs at private hospitals to check lapses in treatment and it has to be examined. In case of patients with grievances over medical negligence, when they appeal to the Medical Board, the Board should take an unbiased stance instead of supporting the medical fraternity. The accused doctors can go for appeal again while the patient has no way to appeal to a higher authority. Upright civil servants who had made it to the service after their graduation in medicine should head such a Board and it should ensure justice to the affected patient to function in an unbiased manner for its credibility, he said.
In case of mercy killing of terminally ill, though the
Supreme Court has issued a favourable verdict, the Parliament has to ensure that its implementation is not misused and for that the government has to ensure a proper system in place, he said.
Opposition leader
Ramesh Chennithala said the nexus between corporate hospitals and drug mafia has left health care in the lurch. “Even now majority of the patients hold the doctor’s word sacred and when that trust is lost it will affect the entire health sector. Human rights violations in health care sector are hardly addressed in the state. Every human being irrespective of economic status should be offered the best health care and that is the right of every individual which needs to be ensured. Currently, the poor cannot afford the treatment at super speciality hospitals and that needs to change, he said. He also called to ensure that the Parliament Bill on Mercy Killing should be verified for its legal clauses to prevent misuse before its introduction.
KSHRC acting chairperson and former judge Justice P Mohandas sad most of the complaints received from patients on HR violations is against the hospitals, doctors and police personnel. The HR violations in health care of tribal community is also a major lapse that needs to be addressed, he said.
