‘Discipline-obsessed’ Lal Singh makes ‘undisciplined’ entry to GB Pant hospital
Minister for Health Lal Singh has found himself in the middle of a controversy over his Saturday’s visit to GB Pant Children’s Hospital without donning the mandatory infection-control gear—apron and mask.
Singh is in news for the past one month for stressing on dress code for doctors on duty to ensure “discipline” and “prevention of infection.”
However, on Saturday, the Health Minister visited the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at GB Pant hospital without wearing an apron or a mask—two mandatory anti-infection measures. The Minister also didn’t remove his shoes before entering the NICU, sources said.
A doctor said the NICU only admits critically-sick newborns who are put on life support, with utmost care given to infection control mechanism.
“This (infection control mechanism) is maintained by ensuring that doctors and nurses wear proper anti-infection gear including apron and mask during their stay at the NICU,” said a doctor.
The hospital doesn’t allow visitors and attendants including mothers of newborns to enter the Unit to minimize risk of newborns catching infection. Mothers, after wearing apron, are allowed to feed newborns there.
However, the doctor said, it was shocking to see the Minister went into the NICU without wearing the infection control gear.
In the photograph sent by the Information department to the news organizations on Saturday, the Minister was seen without an apron in the NICU while doctors and paramedics accompanying him were dressed as per the norms.
This was Health Minister’s first visit to the GB Pant Children’s Hospital where infrastructure deficiency has badly hit the healthcare delivery.
Earlier, Singh, on his first visit to SMHS Hospital, allegedly ‘pushed’ some doctors for not donning their aprons.
At GMC Jammu too, a psychiatrist resigned when the Minister ‘humiliated’ her for not wearing the apron.
“Why these double standards? Minister should have be an example setter,” said a doctor at GB Pant Hospital.
