Tassaduq Rashid
Anantnag, July 30 (KNS): What could one say when erring doctor will be letting free without bringing him into task. A doctor in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district who issed negative report to a Covid-19 positive patient was surprisingly posted as District Health Officer (DHO) Anantnag by the Government thereby hoodwinking common masses after one and a half month of enquiry.
It has come true that rules are for fools as authorities in south Kashmir have failed to take stern action against a doctor who was found in a “criminal negligence” while issuing incorrect report to a Covid-19 positive patient. According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Dr Showkat Hussain, Medical Superintendent at Sub-District Hospital Bijbehara had indulged in a criminal negligence at a time when entire J&K is engulfed with Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Showkat Hussain few months ago issued a Covid-19 report wherein the patient was showed negative though he was positive. When this “brute negligence” was communicated to higher offices of the concern department, they ordered “Impartial enquiry” into the incident. “Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag Dr Mukhtar Ahmad took serious note of the matter and ordered impartial enquiry into the wrongdoing. Two health officials including BMO (BMO) Bijbehara and District Immunization Officer (DIO) Anantnag were its members”, sources said.
They added during the investigation, it was found that Dr Showkat Hussain has resorted to negligence and issued a wrong report to a COvid-19 positive patient thereby putting his and community’s life into risk.
Besides BMO Bijbehara, Directorate of Health Service Kashmir (DHSK) also ordered separate enquiry which also seconded the enquiry conducted on the direction of BMO Bijbehara.
Meanwhile the concern department took action and ordered attachment of Dr Showkat Hussain to CMO Office Anantnag till further orders.
However on July 29, 2020 Government of J&K in its fresh order related to transfers and postings, appointed Dr Showkat Hussain as In-charge District Health Officer (DHO) Anantnag. “Dr Showkat Hussain, attached with Chief Medical Officer Anantnag is posted as I/C DHO Anantnag”, order reads.
People across the district have shocked over the behavior of authorities over negligence committed by a senior doctor in wake of Covid-19 pandemic. While expressing resentment over the move, habitants of the district termed it a “shocker” to healthcare system across the district. They said authorities once again hoodwinked common masses in the name of enquiries and investigations and thereby kept this phrase relevant that “rules are for fools”.
Locals alleged that the healthcare facilities in the district are not up to the mark and said health officials consider themselves above the law. “In sub-district and block level health centers, officials are playing with the lives of patients in absence of accountability and transparency”, they said. They appealed Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu to come up with personal intervention for the development of healthcare infrastructure in the district so that patients of different ailments will get advanced treatment locally.
When KNS questioned health officials is one month attachment enough for a medico as a punishment who indulged in providing a wrong certificate to a patient, they expressed differently.
Deputy Director Health Dr Mushtaq Chalkoo termed his attachment to CMOs office as embarrassment for the medico. He said the doctor who was earlier full-fledged MS is now DHO.
Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Sameer Matoo expressed rudely to this correspondent over the move and said will see it later.
Meanwhile Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education told KNS that he will look into the matter as it was recommended by DHSK. (KNS)