Srinagar : In a startling revelation, a senior doctor at SKIMS Medical College Bemina has claimed he got exposed to COVID-19 patient, but allegedly refused to go for administrative quarantine.
The SKIMS Bemina College has been receiving coronavirus patients since April 3.
On April 11, a senior doctor of the hospital brought into the notice of hospital administration that he got exposed to COVID-19 patient. He told the authorities that he won’t attend duties as he needs to be home quarantined.
After which Medical Superintendent SKIMS Hospital wrote a letter to Principal SKIMS Medical College that a doctor (name withheld) has stated that he has got exposed to COVID-19 patient during duty on April 11 and is under home quarantine.
Subsequently, Principal issued an order, a copy of which lies with news agency KINS, which reads, “As reported by the doctor, that he has got exposed to COVID-19 positive patient in the ward and has started isolation. As per the guidelines laid down for the said purpose in J&K, he has to be shifted to administrative quarantine immediately and accordingly vehicle and security guard with well protected cover to be transferred to the quarantine centre at Zakura as conveyed by the DHO and the Coordinator SKIMS Medical College Hospital.”
After which, the Medical Superintendent SKIMS Medical College Hospital issued another order. The letter a copy of which is in possession of KINS reads, “In reference to letter received from Principal, following staff are directed to ensure transfer of doctor from home to quarantine at Zakura. Deployment monitor will make a vehicle available for the said purpose with the protective gear of driver of the said vehicle. Senior security supervisor SKIMS MCH to depute a security personal with vehicle which will go to pick-up the professor from his residence to quarantine centre Zakura and later provide a report in this regard. On-duty RHA will ensure that the vehicle leaves from hospital premises with the required staff for necessary action.”
A top official told KINS on condition of anonymity that when the vehicle was sent to his home, the doctor surprisingly had said officials he was not exposed to COVID-19. “He wanted to be home quarantined not at Zakura to evade from performing duties. He then communicated to administration that he was not exposed as he was wearing full protective gear. Since then he is coming to hospital for few hours but not going inside wards to see the patients,” the official claimed.
The official said the administration has also sought explanation from the said doctor for “unauthorisedly” giving statements to media about coronavirus as he was not heading the COVID management team at SKIMS Bemina.
Several top officials of the SKIMS Bemina refused to comment on the issue. (KINS)
