Dear Editor,
This is in reference to the lone medical college and hospital of Arunachal Pradesh, the Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (TRIHMS).
If I am not wrong, its motto is ‘Knowledge, ethics, wisdom, service’, and it is located in an urban area. But, in my view, from among all the points contained in the TRIHMS’ motto, only two are being followed and the remaining two – ethics and service – are yet to be implemented, because it is very unfortunate that the TRIHMS still does not have basic lifesaving units, which is most important and essential. Also, consider starting a special department or healthcare facility that provides intensive treatment and medicines in order to save a life, which is known as ICU/ICCU/CCU/ITU, which is a basic unit of a hospital and medical college. A medical institute situated in an urban area must have it as a mandatory part.
An ICU provides critical care and life support to the acutely ill, patients suffering from life-threatening illnesses, and injured patients. As we know, there are many medical cases which require intensive care, but due to the unavailability of such facilities we are still lagging behind in catering such facilities to the save the lives of patients, even though there might be many reasons for the deficiency. Further, the matter related to OT/OR (operating room or operation suite) and its equipment, and ICU facilities, must be made available immediately.
I tried to know the actual reason for the unavailability of an ICU by calling up the dean of the TRIHMS, but unfortunately, both of the dean’s numbers – 03602350331 (phone) and 03602350791 (fax) – are not working.
Subsequently, I tried it through the internet on 13 March. I asked the TRIHMS as to why it doesn’t have an ICU and other special lifesaving facilities yet. The answer was, “Due to unavailability of technicians to operate the central gas pipeline.”
This unjustified and irrational answer makes me more perplexed. Is a medical college and hospital situated in an urban area unable to install/establish an ICU only because of a gas pipeline technician? In this case, who is accountable for the loss of life that may occur because of unavailability of ICU facilities – the central pipeline technician, the patient, or the authorities concerned?
My question to the secretary HFW, DHS, the TRIHMS director and the dean and the principal of the TRIHMS is this: is your administrative and management capacity so poor that you can’t hire and recruit a permanent technician to operate central gas pipeline? My second question is: how will you impart training to the 50 MBBS students about intensive care and ICU patient management, its uses and treatment without an ICU within the TRIHMS? My third question is: what is the alternative provision made available for the patients seeking intensive medical attention, and how is it possible to treat a co-morbid illness that requires critical, round-the-clock care? Is it possible to monitor and treat such patients in the general ward or in a cabin? Are patients in the capital complex immunized enough with ‘anti-intensive care drug’ or ‘anti-steriodal lifesaving drug’ so that they will never seek any intensive medical attention till their last breath? And I don’t think there is any such medicine made by the WHO to immunize one.
And my expectation is for installation of ventilation and fully equipped OT and NICU, PICU, neuro ICU, SICU, PACU, etc. I can only imagine it in the next 10 decades. I know it is quite easy to raise a question and quite difficult to find a solution, but I know also that it is not impossible to find a better and substantial solution.
Therefore, I exhort the authorities concerned to immediately look into the matter for the welfare and wellbeing of the patients, starting from neuro to cardio, ortho, respiratory, surgical, pediatric and comas etc.
And my also request to whosoever holds the portfolio of health & family welfare to please help in getting the best remedy in the interest of the public. Nothing is more precious than a life.
Sincerely,
Raja Taye,
Doimukh