Kolkata doctors’ protest: Outrage over video of ‘rusty’ surgical tools, TMC says bid to tarnish image | Kolkata News
An alleged incident at Kolkata’s SSKM Medical College and Hospital, one of West Bengal’s premier healthcare institutions, has reignited concerns over the quality of equipment and patient care in government hospitals in the state.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front shared a photo of a pair of rusty surgical scissors, alleging that it was being used during a cesarean delivery last week. The alleged incident has sparked outrage among medical professionals as well as the public. The junior doctors claimed that the rusty scissors broke during the procedure, highlighting the potential risks to patient safety.
They raised serious questions about the quality of equipment and the overall cleanliness of the hospital’s operating rooms. Dr Manimoy Bandyopadhyay, Director IPGMER (SSKM Hospital), could not be reached for comments.
A member of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front said, “We have said many times that the state’s health system needs to be overhauled since such an incident is not new. But this cannot be allowed to continue. We are already protesting over the rape and murder of a colleague. First, we came across blood-stained gloves at RG Kar Hospital and now these rusted scissors. Is this an example of an improved infrastructure?”
The junior doctors said if the rusty scissors were used on the patient infection would spread in her body. “It is claimed that we provide first-rate patient care but that is not true. We have seen such things in the past too but we are becoming vocal about these now,” another junior doctor said.
The incident involving the “rusty” scissors comes on the heels of blood-stained gloves being used at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Alleging that it is part of an attempt to tarnish the state’s healthcare system, some leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) suggested that the incident may have been staged to discredit the state government’s efforts to improve healthcare facilities.
“Some junior doctors don’t want to work and only intend to disrupt the state’s healthcare system. They are circulating pictures of stained gloves and rusty scissors. Who knows from where these scissors were brought from,” said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.
However, BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya said, “Given the amount of cut money (commission) the TMC takes it is not surprising that hospitals have rusty scissors. It’s a government which has constructed large entry gates but is not adequately equipped to change even bedsheets.”
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