Srinagar, June 9: After the one-man commission constituted by the state government to look into the affairs of GB Pant Hospital indicted the former Medical Superintendent (MS) of the hospital Dr Javaid Choudhary for the “mess” there, a confidential report by the police has also nailed him for negligence.
The report submitted to the government by J&K Police states said that Dr Choudhary was not capable to handle the administrative affairs of the hospital and used to remain busy with private practice.
“Dr Choudhary was doing private practice at Magarmal Bagh and used to reach GB Pant Hospital at 11.30 am,” says the report adding that the employees of hospital testified that he used to leave the hospital at 2.30 pm. It adds that Dr Choudhary has never undergone the administrative training necessary for handling the job of MS. “His service particulars reveal that he (Dr Choudhary) never underwent administrative training and it was one of the causes for his mishandling of the situation at GB Pant. There is no certificate of diploma or training capsule of administrative training added to his service.”
The report also reveals that during his first term as MS of GB Pant hospital, Dr Choudhary had purchased two ventilators allegedly through dubious means. “After some time both the ventilators went out of order,” the report said adding that one of these was repaired by his successor. “During his second term as MS, Dr Choudhary allegedly facilitated the dilapidation of the second ventilator as well,” the report states.
The report adds that taking the advantage of Dr Choudary’s absence and no regular administrative check ups at the hospital, the senior doctors too were reaching the office late and leaving early. “These senior doctors also started spending more time at their private clinics in and around the Srinagar city,” the report says adding some doctors even moved to other districts for private practice.
The report says that even the technical staff meant to run the machinery of the hospital was inefficient. “These people have not been given any training capsule of latest technology,” says the report adding that most of the employees meant to assist doctors in hospital have been reported assisting the doctors at their private clinics and nursing homes and in some cases even in operation theaters outside the hospital.
Pertinently, the preliminary report of Dr Showkat Ali Zargar-led one-man Commission of Inquiry constituted by state government to investigate GB Pant horror has also indicted Dr Javaid Choudhary.
Dr Zargar has revealed that Dr Javed Choudhary has never held a meeting with faculty to discuss the problems of the hospital. “It only shows callous attitude of HOD towards hospital affairs. Even no meeting has been held during this turmoil (since the issue of high infant mortality surfaced in media) until on May 17, when I assembled the whole faculty for the first time.”
The preliminary report has also said: “Taking into consideration above observations, I am of the considered view that Medical Superintendent-cum-Head of the Department of Pediatrics (Dr Choudhary) is responsible for the present crisis.”
Pertinently, government has officially admitted that 480 infants died at GB Pant Hospital from January this year upto May 3 taking the total death toll during the past 17 months to an alarming 1400.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST