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AFTER CHIEF Minister Mamata Banerjee’s allegations of “wrong treatment” at a premier government hospital in Kolkata recently, doctors’ associations said on Saturday that such statements could create “mistrust” among the public about the facilities at state-run hospitals.
Terming Banerjee’s remarks as “irresponsible,” doctors said such remarks could also instigate people to assault doctors and that the CM could have chosen another forum to “express her displeasure”.
The CM suffered a knee injury during her Spain trip in September this year and was advised rest till recovery. During a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna on Wednesday, the CM claimed that her infection turned septic. “Owing to wrong treatment, my infection became septic.
The way saline channels are made in the arm, I was in that situation for seven days. I could not get up,” she said. The CM, who also holds the health portfolio, worked remotely for over a month.
Secretary of the Association of Health Service Doctors, Dr Manas Gumta, said Banerjee’s remarks could “instigate people” and lead to “assault on doctors”.
“The hospital (where the CM underwent treatment) is a top government facility of the state. If the Chief Minister shows displeasure over treatment at a government hospital, where will common people go? We have seen how health infrastructure is collapsing in the state. In the recent past, a former minister had to rush from one corner to another to get a critical patient admitted in hospital despite it being an emergency. This statement by the CM will instigate people and like in 2017 there may be more incidents of assault on doctors. I condemn her statement,” said Gumta.
Another doctor working with a government facility, who did not wish to be named, said, “The CM is concerned and hence she probably spoke about it publicly. However, it would have been better if she had not talked about it in a press conference. People lose confidence in doctors and that is not good for any state which is emphasising on developing health infrastructure.”
State secretary of Medical Service Centre Biplab Chandra that Banerjee’s statement could create “mistrust” among people regarding the quality of treatment offered at government hospitals.
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“The CM said that she was administered “wrong treatment” at the hospital. If it is true, then a press conference is not the forum to express her displeasure. She is also the health minister of the state. If there was some fault, there is another forum where you can talk about it. Everyone knows that the health infrastructure is reeling under a shortage of medicine supply and manpower… Now, to cover up things a conflict is being created between doctors. It is an irresponsible statement from the CM, who also holds the health portfolio,” said Chandra.
The CM’s statements also triggered a political row after Opposition leaders questioned the state of healthcare infrastructure in Bengal. In a post on X on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari wrote:
“The Health Minister (referring to the CM) should resign for the wrong treatment of the chief minister. This is the result of an attempt to turn the state’s most prestigious government hospital into a safe haven for pickpockets…..The doctors here are giving less importance to treatment…”
Reacting to the BJP MLA’s remarks, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “LoP @SuvenduWB, where was your demand for accountability when: Fourteen innocent children tested positive for life-threatening infections after receiving blood transfusions at a govt. hospital in Kanpur, UP. Twenty four lives, including 12 newborns, were lost at a state-run hospital in Maharashtra’s Nanded, all due to a shortage of medical staff…”
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