Telangana: Why Doctors Suspended for Rats in Hospital?

The Telangana Government Doctors Association (TGDA) had demanded that authorities should withdraw the suspension order of the two doctors by April 4. However, when the doctors failed to secure any positive response from the authorities, they started the protest.

Previously Medical Dialogues reported that the patient's brother again visited the facility and discovered blood on the bed and found his brother unconscious. He was bitten by rats on his hands and legs, leading to bleeding injuries. Health minister Harish Rao immediately took action and called for an inquiry.

The doctors pointed out that catching rats and insects come under the domain of the sanitation department and it is not the responsibility of the doctors to look out for rats yet the government had taken action against doctors. The doctors are responsible for treating the patients but they are being criticized instead of the sanitation agency. The doctors boycotted work for three hours on Tuesday. 

One of the protesting doctors told Hindustan Times, "How are the duty doctors held responsible for the movement of rodents in the ICU? Are they meant for treating the patients or catching rats in the ICU? It is the duty of the hospital sanitation staff or the contractor who is supposed to take care of the maintenance of wards." " If we have failed in discharging our duties properly and acted carelessly or irresponsibly in treating the patients, the government can take action", the doctors added.

One of the doctors added that the superintendent personally examined the ward and the debris had been cleaned as soon as the issue of rodents came to his notice. "In spite of all that, if rats bite a patient, it is the failure of the contractor and also lack of infrastructure in the hospital; and not the doctors. In fact, the government should provide proper infrastructure in the ICU," the doctor observed. The doctors demanded that the transfer order of the superintendent should be revoked.