Need to implement Act to save medical establishments stressed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 22 2018: It is being predicted that if the Manipur Medicine Service Personnel and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act 2015, is not properly implemented in Manipur, the loss to properties of medical institutions and establishments in the State will only increase.

A source from the State Health Directorate informed that the Manipur Medicine Service Personnel and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act 2015, was passed by the Assembly and enacted in February 2016, as a measure to keep a check on the common incident regarding destruction of hospital/medical institutions' properties by family members of patients who died allegedly due to negligence by the medical personnel as well as to investigate and take up proper actions for any foul play or negligence on part of the medical staff as well.

As per the said Act, if a patient dies while in a hospital and the patient party is not satisfied with the service provided by the doctors, they can give a written complaint to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital and also file a complaint to the nearest police station.

The source continued that after receiving the written complaint, the Medical Superintendent will collaborate with the Investigation Officer of the nearest police station and take up a legal case.

After a case is taken up, the body of the patient will be sent for post mortem to find out the reason for death and to see if the death is due to the negligence on part of the doctors.

The source added that if the patient party is still not satisfied with the post mortem report, they can demand the Medical Superintendent for 'further pathological examination to another place.

If the port mortem report shows that the patient indeed died due to negligence or the actions of the doctor, then as per the Act, proper actions can be taken up against the involved doctor.

On the other hand, if the patient party resorts to violence, assault doctors or cause destruction of hospital properties, they can be punished as per the provisions of the Act, the source added.

Claiming that the Act, even if it was passed in 2016, has not been properly implemented in the State till date, the source conveyed that there are still common occurrence of violence against doctors and destruction of hospital properties by irate family members who are unsatisfied with the service of the doctors or hospitals and blame the medical parties for the death of their loved ones.

These incidents not only strain the relationship and trust between doctors and the people/patients but is also a cause of concern among the doctors, the source stated and added that it is high time for the Act to be implemented properly in the State.

The source explained that for the Act to be successfully implemented, it is necessary for the Medical Superintendents of the Government and private hospitals of the State to be honest.

There are also many cases of failure to lodge any FIR despite complaints to the police stations concerned by the irate patient's party.

As such, it is also necessary for the police to work diligently for the success of the Act.

In Manipur, cases of such deaths in the hospitals and the resulting issues of violence and unrest etc are often solved with an agreement between the patient parties and the hospital authorities.

Most often than not, the people are usually clueless as to the terms and conditions for such agreements, the source added.

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