The Director, Prof. D Acharya, appointed a new Professor-in-Charge for BC Roy Technology Hospital, Dr. Analava Mitra of SMST on 11th November 2009. Dr. Mitra, replacing Professor Gautam Sinha (VGSOM), has taken charge with immediate effect.

Source: http://noticeboard.iitkgp.ernet.in/estab/notice.php?sr_no=47

Over the next week, The Scholars’ Avenue will be talking to various people in the administration and among the students to figure out what kind of progress BC Roy hospital has made in providing quality medical care to the campus residents. For an update at the beginning of the semester read Page 4 of our August 17, 2009 issue.

If you have questions to ask, issues to raise, or a story that concerns faulty medical care, comment on this post and we will ensure that your questions are answered.

The report further states that Dr. Som had made the correct diagnosis and had not wasted any time in treatment (in contrast to the general perception).

The turbulence and uncertainty surrounding the institute, after the sad demise of Rohit Kumar on 22^nd of march, have been finally put to rest with the enquiry commission giving a clean chit to our director, Dr. Acharya. The two member enquiry commission consisting of Dr.Bibhukalyani Das and Dr. Sitesh Gupta had submitted an extensive report to the director (acting) on the 2^nd of this month. The commission had launched an investigation into the incident and had visited the campus on the 8^th, 13^th and 29^th of April for the same. In these 3 days, the delegation made it a point to visit all the relevant places which included healthcare facilities present in close proximity to the campus. After talking to the concerned authorities, friends of the victim and the staff of B.C Roy hospital, the delegation has absolved the hospital management of any responsibility. Some noteworthy points presented by the committee in the report are as follows:

• The victim was suffering from an extreme form of epilepsy but the actual death was a result of a head injury due to the fall from a rickshaw (which in turn could have deteriorated the epileptic condition of the victim).
• The report emphatically mentions the fact that under the prevailing circumstances, the hospital had done whatever it could do.
• Dr. Som had made the correct diagnosis and had not wasted any time in treatment (in contrast to the general perception).
• Further, there is mention of an allegation made by Mr. Vidya Bhusan and Mr. Priya Ranjan Kumar (close friends of the victim) that the pharmacist was sitting by the side of the driver when the patient needed oxygen and suction from mouth due to bleeding but it also clearly states the pharmacist’s claim that the oxygen was on from the starting point and he himself had sucked the patient’s mouth. He had only requested the students to regulate the flow rate of oxygen.
• There is a dire need for hospital facilities to be upgraded and the responsibility of doing this rests completely on the students and staff of the institute.
• A slew of measures to enhance the basic resources and equipments present in B.C. Roy Technology Hospital have been recommended. The report also advises maintaining the contacts of a pool of medical specialists in the neighbouring areas (something which our paper has already done).
• An analysis on the feasibility of a super speciality hospital in Kharagpur was carried out. The report states that due to lack of population and affluence in neighbouring areas, corporate houses would be reluctant to set up healthcare centres here and hence have called upon the strong alumni network to assist the institute in this initiative.

In short, the report presented by the commission stopped short of implicating any specific person for the incident but accepted the need for massive overhaul of medical facilities. Along with measures to improve the current hospital, it also explored the possibility of a multi speciality hospital in future.

For detailed information, please see the original report available for download here.

The Board Of Governors, IIT Kharagpur has appointed a two member enquiry commission consisting of

1. Hon’ble Justice Moloy Kumar Bose, Former Judge, Kolkata High Court
2. Dr. Subir Chowdhury, Former Director, IIM Kolkata

to investigate the unfortunate incident at IIT Kharagpur on 22 March, 2009 following the death of a 3rd year Electrical Engineering student.

Manvendra Singh Rathore, a 3rd Year Undergraduate student from the HSS department (MS Hall) suffered femur fracture and cranial contusions from a fall off the 2nd floor yesterday. He underwent a surgery today at Apollo Hospital, Kolkata  and is recuperating. He needs A+ blood urgently. Students with the mentioned blood group are requested to respond to this notice immediately and contact one of the undermentioned persons

CONTACT:

PRITHVIRAJ SENSHARMA
9831234698
dc nick: ROVERANDOM
gmail: prithviraj.iit.

ARKOSNATO NEOGY
9422579434
dc nick: Elektron
gmail: a.s.neogy

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24 Hour Helpline has been setup in B.C.Roy Technology Hospital with the help of  the Security section. Please ring in following numbers in case of emergency – (03222) 81007 , 81008 ,  81009. A new ambulance has also been rented.

• 24hr helpline operated in B.C.Roy Technology Hospital with the help of Security section. Please ring in following number in case emergency-
  81007 ; 81008 ; 81009
  Dr.N.K.Som (Head & SMO,B.C.R.T.H.)
• The new committee has been formed comprising of two Doctors.
• New ambulances have been hired. The ambulances shall henceforth be available at BCRTH at all hours and not in the transport section.
• The Institute authorities have explored the option of using the facilities at Kalaikunda. It is learnt that there is heavy protocol involved in asking for an emergency airlift, and that the best case scenario was a 2-3 hours response time. The institute has been asked to send a request to the DM (District Magistrate) and to the IAF to facilitate the setting up of a short circuit protocol which might cut down the waiting time to 10 minutes, best case. Issues like landing clearance at Kolkata and choice of hospital are also to be worked out. It was also mentioned that any agreement with the IAF would be unofficial. An alternative would be to consider private/public sector help like Pawan Hans or Deccan Aviation.
• A business group based in Kolkata has shown interest in setting up a Medical center with a restaurant and a Laundrette.
• The online complaint system for maintenance problems has been worked upon and shall be in place by next week.
• Prof. Mathur has been asked to make a complaints/ suggestion section exclusive to the BC Roy Tech Hospital.
• The sweeping contract tender has been changed.
• A donation of Rs. 3.5 Lakhs has been made from the institute surplus medical insurance money for the treatment of Gourav Tomar. We wish him a speedy recovery.

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