Chairman and Managing Director of Shija Hospitals & Research Institute (SHRI), Dr Palin Khundongbam on SAU said that he has come across cases of mob violence in hospital premises where angry mob vandalised properties and even beat up doctors.
Even though he admitted that such cases have decreased in Manipur, he said that such things happened quite frequently, adding such things also depends upon people’s mindset.
Speaking while participating in the all India Doctors’ Strike held at Shija Hospital, Dr Palin said in the last few years the doctors’ community, particularly associations like the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have taken up self improvement procedures to decrease avoidable errors and to avoid cases of unwanted conflicts in the hospital premises. The improvements have been taken up in terms of quality and protocols and that’s why such cases have very much reduced in recent past, he added.
He said that there are also the guidelines of NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers) and NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) to reduce avoidable errors. Now, doctors have to focus on improving quality including clinical outcomes as well as the patient’s experience starting from entry to exit, that is to say, starting from admission of the patient in a hospital up-till he was discharged, he added.
Dr Palin maintained that guidelines are now provided and all hospitals need to be conscious.
As far as Manipur is concerned, one good sign is that there are many hospitals and laboratories accredited by NABL and NABH, the Doctor informed.
Dr Plain said that the intention of doctors is to always heal the patients. However, sometimes there may be some errors or even negligence on parts of individuals and that is when issues arise. However, the ultimate aim of doctors should be to reduce avoidable medical errors, he said.
Ultimately doctors and hospitals need to have a good relationship with the public, Dr Palin said, asserting that doctors and hospitals are not isolated from the public. So, the public needs to understand that the hospitals are caregivers as they are giving their efforts day in and day out, he said, adding a better public awareness is required.
