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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, OCT 4: The expert committee constituted by Union Health Ministry to look into the treatment of the late Union Minister P R Kumaramangalam at Apollo Hospital, has recommended a mandatory re-registration of all medical practitioners every five years with Medical Council of India. The move, could be used as a punitive action against doctors failing to treat patients correctly.
Another recommendation of the committee is to make it mandatory for all hospitals and nursing homes in the country to provide medical reports of a patient to his relatives whenever demanded. This has apparently been done in view of reported dithering by AIIMS officials in providing Kumaramangalam8217;s medical reports to to his wife, Kitty.
With a view to check mushrooming growth of nursing homes 8212; some of which don8217;t have even basic amenities and infrastructure 8212; the committee has urged the Centre to formulate a minimum standard of infrastructure and manpower for all hospitals and nursing homes 8212; both Government and private.
The committee headed by Medical Superintendent of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Dr C P Singh, had submitted its report to Union Health Minister Dr C P Thakur last month. The Health Minister is likely to make the report public on Wednesday.
The committee has indicted doctors at Apollo Hospital for 8220;failing to diagnose Kumaramangalam8217;s ailment correctly and pursuing a wrong line of treatment8221;. It concluded that Kumaramangalam was not suffering from either malaria or pneumonia 8212; for which he was treated at Apollo when admitted there on April 148211; but from myeloid leukaemia.
