Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 5: Government hospitals across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been directed not to ask patients or their attendants to purchase surgical consumables, sutures and other essential items from private pharmacies, following concerns brought to the notice of Lieutenant Governor Dr Dinesh Sharma during his recent visit to G.B. Pant Hospital.
The Directorate of Health Services said regularly used surgical consumables, sutures and other essential surgical items required for patient care are available at health institutions under the A&N Administration.
A circular has now been issued to hospital authorities and treating doctors directing them not to advise or require patients and their attendants to procure items needed for treatment from outside. They have also been asked to strictly follow prescribed procedures for providing such supplies.
The directive comes amid concerns over medical supplies at G.B. Pant Hospital. The Wave Andaman had earlier reported allegations that patients at the hospital were being asked to purchase essential surgical supplies from private pharmacies before undergoing procedures.
The allegations were raised by TSG Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Andaman and Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee, in a representation to the Lieutenant Governor seeking an inquiry into reported shortages and the management of medical supplies.
The Administration’s latest directive makes it clear that patients should not be asked to procure surgical materials privately when the required items are available within the government healthcare system.
Patients and attendants who are asked to purchase surgical supplies from outside have been asked to immediately report the matter to the Director of Health Services, along with relevant details. The Directorate said complaints would be examined and appropriate action taken.
Hospital under scrutiny
The latest directive follows a series of concerns over infrastructure, supplies and patient facilities at G.B. Pant Hospital highlighted by The Wave Andaman.
In July, The Wave Andaman reported that patients were being accommodated on mattresses on the floor because of a shortage of beds. The report highlighted calls for an additional 100-bed ward, a trauma centre and expansion of hospital infrastructure.
The Wave Andaman also reported concerns over hygiene practices inside the hospital’s ICU after a witness alleged that a bed was allotted to another patient without the linen being immediately changed.
More recently, The Wave Andaman reported that a shortage of laboratory reagents had disrupted some diagnostic tests at G.B. Pant Hospital, following which the Health Department sanctioned Rs 9 crore for procurement of laboratory consumables.
Following the Lieutenant Governor’s inspection, The Wave Andaman also reported on directions for an overhaul of medical services at G.B. Pant Hospital, including measures relating to medicines, diagnostics, equipment and patient facilities.
The Administration has since taken steps to improve sanitation, patient registration and waiting areas at the hospital. Additional seating has also been installed near the ICU and in the Surgical Ward.
The Health Directorate has separately stepped up monitoring of medicine stocks across the Islands. On October 5, it said most essential medicines were available in sufficient quantities, while fresh orders had been placed for medicines running low, with supplies expected from Government Medical Store Depots in Chennai and Kolkata.
G.B. Pant Hospital is the principal government referral hospital for the Islands and caters to patients from North and Middle Andaman, Nicobar and other remote areas, many of whom have to travel to Sri Vijaya Puram for specialised treatment.
The Administration said essential medicines, surgical consumables and other medical supplies required for treatment should be provided through the government healthcare system and urged patients to report any instance in which they are directed to purchase such items privately.
