VIP Culture? AIIMS issues SOP promising special medical services to Parliament members, Doctor oppose move
New Delhi: To streamline treatment facilities for MPs, AIIMS Delhi has come up with a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding special "medical care arrangements" for the sitting members of the Parliament.
The move has, however, drawn sharp criticism from a section of doctors who have called out the "VIP culture" at the premier health institute.
Claiming that the letter issued by AIIMS Director Dr M Srinivas is promoting VIP Culture, several doctors have now urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take cognizance of the matter.
"On one side our Hon'ble @PMOIndia shri @narendramodi Ji says "There is no #VIP Culture in #India! But on the other hand @aiims_newdelhi Director #Dr_M_Srinivas releases an letter to promote #VIP Culture! Like past we still stand against #VIP Culture! #SayNoToVIPculture," the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) mentioned in a Tweet.
Such response has come against the recent letter by the AIIMS Chief, directed to the Joint Secretary of Lok Sabha Secretariat, Sh. V. M. Kandpal. Referring to the Medical arrangements for Hon'ble sitting members of Parliament in AIIMS, the letter listed down the Standard Operating Procedure (SoPs) that will be followed in order to further streamline the system for OPD/ Emergency consultation and inpatient hospitalisation of Hon'ble Sitting M.P.'s of Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha.
Also Read: Breaking News: Dr M Srinivas, Dean of ESIC Hyderabad, appointed Director of AIIMS Delhi
The SoPs mentioned in the letter are as follows:
1. Duty Officers (who are qualified medical professionals) from Dept. of Hospital Administration will be available in At Control Room AIIMS Hospital round the clock (Room to 12, Ground Floor, Pvt. Ward Block. Near M.S. Office) and the Duty Officer on duty will be the Nodal Officer to coordinate & facilitate requisite medical care arrangements for Hon'ble Sitting M.P 's.
2. The landline telephone numbers of Control Room are 000-26599279.011-26593309 and 011-26593574. Mobile phone number of Duty Officer on duty is 9868397016 which will be constant irrespective of the person on duty.
3. In case an Holible Sitting M.P. requires OPD consultation from it speciality/ super-speciality department, the Lok Sabha/ Raiya Sabha Secretariat or personal staff of Nonlife M.P. will contact the Duty Officer and provide him requisite details about the ailment and specialist/ superspecialist doctor to be consulted.
The Duty Officer will speak to concerned specialist/ superspecialist doctor or Head of Dept. and will fix up requisite appointment. In case it so required, we can speak to the Chief of Centre/ Head of concerned department as well.
4. On the scheduled date & time of scheduled OPD consultation, Hon'ble M.P. will be requested to reach the office of the Duty Officer Control Room (Room No. 12, Ground Floor, Pvt. Ward Block, M.S. Office).
The Duty Officer will extend due protocol to the Hon'ble M.P. in his office anti will confirm availability of concerned specialist doctor before sending Hon'ble M.P. for requisite consultation. accompanied by a responsible official from All MS.
5. In case of an emerge, situation where an Hon'ble M.P. requires immediate medical management, the Lok Sabha/ Raiya Sabha Secretariat or personal staff of Hon'ble M.P. will contact the Duty Officer and provide him requisite details about the ailment so that the Duty Officer can guide them as to which Emergency services. the Hon'ble M.P. should be brought i.e. Main Emergency or Trauma Centre Emergency or Eye Emergency.
6. Duty Officer will ensure that the Hon'ble M.P. is received In the concerned Emergency by the Patient Care Manager on duty and Is provided immediate attention & treatment by the doctors of respective speciality/ superspeciality departments. The Duty Officer will organize requisite coordination and will personally speak to the treating doctors and/ or Head(s) of Departments as per medical needs of Hon'ble M.P.
7. In case an Hon'hle M.P. has been advised inpatient hospitalization (from OPD or Emergency) the Duty Officer will speak to the Officer In charge Pvt. Ward/ Medical Supdt./ Chief of Centre concerned as may be required to ensure hassle free admission of Hon'ble M.P.
8. The Medial Record Officer Incharge of Admission Office of Main Hospital or any of the Centre(s) where Hon'ble M.P. is admitted will ensure that as & when an Hon'ble Sitting M.P. Is admitted. requisite information is essentially sent to the Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha Secretariat at the time of his/ her admission on the e-mail ID's provided by the Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha Secretariat and on WhatsApp number.
9. In case of inpatient hospitalization a Hon'ble M.P, the treating faculty will send a brief note to the Medical Supdt. about ailment/ illness that Hon'ble M.P. is suffering from. proposed line of management and expected duration of stay. It will be countersigned by the Medical Septic and will be sent to the Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha Secretariat at the given e-mall ID by the Medical Supdt.'s Office.
10. Duty Officer Control Room Al IMS Hospital will be the single point Nodal Officer for coordinating all medical care arrangements for Hon'ble Sitting M.P.'s of Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha. He will speak to/ laise with his/ her counterpart Duty Officers of Centres if so required and may also contact/ consult Medical Supdt./ Chief of Centre/ Head of any department if & when there is any such requirement.
11. All other patients who are referred to AIIMS for requisite consultation/ treatment In AIIMS by Hon'ble M.P.'s will be provided due assistance by the Media & Protocol Division.
Slamming the move, Dr. Ajay Kumar, National Vice President of FAIMA mentioned in a Tweet, "Hon'ble director Aiims now orders for VIP Treatment to the Hon'ble MPs! Initially it was said that Enthusiastic Director would be the boon for #AIIMS! But now he only promoting it!"
"They should open #AIIMS like hospitals in their own constituency from their private funds and then get treated howsoever they want. Order like these are absolute garbage and i wonder how could a doctor sign on this. Please stop this #VIP culture," Dr. Rahul Chakravorty of FAIMA added in a Tweet.
Speaking to Medical Dialogues, the President of FAIMA, Dr. Rohan Krishnan added, "It is absurd that an Institution such as AIIMS, New Delhi, which gets idolized by doctors and other medical colleges throughout the country, releases such a notice which is going to promote VIP culture. FAIMA has zero tolerance to VIP culture and we are still against it. Because it is absolute injustice to the patients who require the attention of the doctors and as doctors, we cannot pick any favourite."
"It is a very disappointing letter and we urge the Prime Minister to take cognizance of the issue and take action against the AIIMS Director for releasing such a letter promoting VIP culture," he further mentioned.
