SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 4: The Kolhan Division chapter of the Jharkhand State Health Services Association (JSHSA) has urged the state government to clear the names of innocent doctors and take strict action against those found guilty in connection with the HIV-positive blood transfusion incident at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital.
JSHSA Kolhan Division vice-president Dr. Jagarnnath Hembram said that the medical community is deeply distressed by the shocking incident. “A high-level state team has already completed its probe, and we expect that the government will act based on facts,” he said.
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Suspensions spark concern among medicos
Following the incident, the state government suspended Civil Surgeon Dr. Sushanto Majhi and Blood Bank in-charge Dr. Dinesha Singh Savaiya. “We regret the incident involving the transfusion of HIV-positive blood to children and demand justice. The guilty must be punished, but at the same time, those who are innocent should be exonerated,” Dr. Hembram said.
Kolhan Division, which has one of the largest contingents of senior medical officers after Ranchi and Dhanbad, discussed the matter with JSHSA vice-presidents from all four divisions. A delegation from Kolhan also met Chaibasa’s new Civil Surgeon, Dr. Bharti Minj, and submitted a memorandum to the Health Department regarding Dr. Majhi’s suspension.
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Allegations of scapegoating
JSHSA state president Dr. Bimlesh Singh has reportedly taken up the issue at the state level in Ranchi.
Meanwhile, a retired civil surgeon from Jamshedpur alleged that Dr. Sushanto Majhi had been made a scapegoat. “He had no direct role in the transfusion of HIV-infected blood, as the task was handled by hospital staff. Since the High Court took cognizance of the case, the government suspended him merely to save face,” the former official said.