THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission on Saturday directed an urgent probe into a complaint that the ICU at the Government Medical College Hospital here was functioning under a temporary cloth-covered arrangement after a fire incident a month ago.
The panel’s chairman, Justice Alexander Thomas, issued the directive while taking up the matter suo motu based on media reports highlighting the extreme difficulties faced by patients in the ICU, according to a statement.
The report said that adequate facilities had not been restored even a month after a fire broke out in a ventilator in the ICU, and that the unit was currently operating under temporary fabric-covered arrangements.
It also alleged delay in the Public Works Department and Electricity Wing in carrying out repair work on the damaged ICU.
The committee assigned the Director of Medical Education to appoint a senior officer of no lower rank than the Deputy Director of Medical Education to conduct an immediate investigation into the matter.
The officer has been asked to assess the situation, suggest remedial measures to ensure proper facilities in the ICU, and submit a comprehensive report to the committee within two weeks.
The chief PWD engineer was also directed to dispatch an executive engineer to inspect the steps required from the electrical ward and coordinate with the hospital authorities to ensure timely completion of the repair work.
Moreover, Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department and Superintendent of Government Medical College Hospital have been asked to submit separate reports within two weeks after taking necessary corrective action.
The committee also directed senior officials representing the DME, chief PWD engineer, state government and hospital superintendent to appear personally before it on May 8 at 10 am to explain the facts of the case.
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