Srinagar, May 15: Authorities at GB Pant Children Hospital here, which reportedly witnessed more than 32 deaths in past fortnight, today in a surprising move ordered “deputation” of three senior faculty members at the institute to the maternity hospital, Lal Ded, rendering the former almost defunct.
The development came a day after Minister for Medical Education RS Chib told Greater Kashmir that some elements were leaking the news of deaths to the media ‘to defame the institute.’
An official said renowned child specialist Dr Qaiser and two senior pediatricians, Dr Muzaffar Jan and Dr Ghulam Rasool, were deputed to LD Hospital. He insisted the move was not a normal practice and in no circumstances the doctors could have been deputed.
“The order mentions that they have been deputed for one month and asked to report at the neonatology ward at the LD,” the official said. The Medical Superintendent, Children Hospital, Dr Javaid Choudhary is learnt to have taken the decision to depute the specialists after consultations with the Principal, Government Medical College, Dr Qazi Masood.
“We have already B-Grade specialists working at the neonatology ward at LD. The hospital has its own posts of pediatricians,” said the official.
The decision has almost rendered the three units which were headed by the specialists defunct. “How will the units function now and who will take care of the patients when there are no specialists?” asked a doctor there. “We don’t understand the logic behind the move.”
The shortage of manpower and lack of facilities together have been contributing to the crisis-like situation which has developed at the institute following death of 32 infants in past 15 days. For past one week Greater Kashmir reported in detail about the deaths.
Officials said the “bizarre” decision will affect both the care to the patients and the junior doctors at the institute will miss teaching experience. “At the first place they have been appointed as pediatricians at GB Pant Hospital and they cannot be move from there at all. If you are deputing them you are willingly depleting the already under-staffed faculty at the institute,” a doctor said.
Asked about his comment on the deputations, the MS Children Hospital, Dr Javaid Choudhary evaded direct response: “Children and Maternity Hospitals are part of GMC and the doctors belong to Medical College,” he said. “There has been no transfer ordered.”
While infants continue to die at the hospital, the GMC Principal Dr Qazi Masood did not bother to respond to repeated calls from Greater Kashmir for past two days for his comments on the situation at the hospital and what prompted administration today to order deputation of the senior faculty members.
Today Dr Masood received the phone call but kept it hanging repeatedly on number of occasions. He did not respond even after GK sent an SMS on his personal number.
The Minister for Medical Education RS Chib too did not respond to repeated calls from GK.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 IST