Date:30/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/30/stories/2006063003040500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Mysore hospital refuses services of urologist

Alladi Jayasri

Two women languishing without treatment

The two patients were admitted to Cheluvamba hospital, Mysore
The specialist offered to provide free treatment

The hospital cited rules to reject the offer

BANGALORE: Two women who need a minor operation to tackle a urological condition are languishing as in-patients at Mysore's Cheluvamba Government Hospital for the past five months. There is no urologist in the once prestigious hospital, and the post has been vacant for several months. The hospital authorities and the Health Department refuse to allow a consultant urologist from a private hospital in Mysore, who is a Mysore Medical College alumnus, to operate on them, free of charge, citing rules, and the two women cannot afford treatment in a private hospital.

One of the women underwent hysterectomy and two surgeries to remove a tumour. But they failed, after which she developed a urological complication. The other patient, who had a ruptured uterus during delivery, needs an operation immediately.

A urologist working in Apollo Hospital, who offered to perform the operation free of cost, was refused permission by the Superintendent of the Hospital, and letters were written to the Director Medical Education and Health Minister R. Ashok explaining the situation. An appeal was also sent to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who made a note on the letter, recommending immediate action, according to sources.

The Health Department officials have remained unresponsive. Doctors who have offered to help quoted the Health Secretary as saying they could not be allowed to treat the two patients, and they could take them to a private hospital.

Government Order

The urologist and a group of doctors said that as per a Government Order, district and taluk hospitals could use the services of private consultants for cases where treatment was not available in the hospitals. But the Medical Superintendent of the Cheluvamba hospital reportedly felt the order did not apply to medical college hospitals.

However, there are instances of private consultants performing surgeries at the Cheluvamba hospital. Sources said that in the past few months, gynaecologists from JSS Medical College, Mysore and consultants from Bangalore and Chennai had performed surgeries and conducted clinics and workshops.