Cuttack: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Wednesday directed Puri Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) to submit an evidence-backed report that whether four Obstetrics & Gynaecology (O&G) doctors were present during the family planning surgery camp at the district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Puri in February 2013.
In line with a directive of the NHRC, the Health Department secretary had approached the apex rights panel with a report submitted by the Puri CDMO June 12, 2013. The report confirmed that there was only one O&G doctor at the camp. However, the commission had rejected the first report submitted by the health secretary.
Expressing displeasure, the NHRC said it is the last chance for the Health Department.
The move follows a petition filed by rights activist Akhand. The petitioner had informed the NHRC that a family planning surgery camp was held at Puri DHH February 10, 2013 where more than 150 surgeries were carried out by a single O&G specialist.
As a result, the women had to wait for at least eight to 10 hours for their turn. This apart, due to lack of basic facilities like beds at the camp, the patients had to lay on the hospital veranda or under the shade of trees.
The Supreme Court guideline mandates that a doctor can perform a maximum of 50 such surgeries at a camp. Besides, the standard operating procedure (SOP) prescribes that a 20-member team, including a specialist, three doctors, nurses, a laboratory technician and a pharmacist, should be present for 50 surgeries at a camp. However, none of the rules was adhered to, the petition said.
Although, there were committees for quality inspection and development to ensure quality surgeries, it did precarious little. Moreover, basic facilities to entertain such a large number of women were absent at the camp, the petitioner told the commission.
PNN