Mumbai: A video has surfaced showing former local corporator Ruksana Siddiqui at BMC-run Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi, shocked to discover an ECG being conducted on a patient by a member of the cleaning staff instead of a trained medical professional.
The incident took place on Dec 28. In the video, the former corporator is seen confronting the hospital staffer, who claims he is regularly instructed by the hospital to perform ECGs despite lacking formal training.
Confirming the video’s authenticity, hospital officials said this practice has been on for the past few years.
“There has been no new recruitment. We requested BMC multiple times to hire more ECG technicians. The technology is advanced enough so that anyone can use it with a little training, so we work with the resources we have,” said a senior doctor from the hospital.
The doctor further highlighted the broader issue of manpower shortage at peripheral hospitals.
“There is at least a 35% vacancy rate at our hospital across all Class 1 to 4 employee categories. BMC needs to address this urgently,” the doctor added.
Despite repeated attempts, Dr Chandrakant Pawar, chief medical superintendent of peripheral hospitals, remained unavailable for comment.
Incidentally, soon after the video went viral, the hospital was approached by a qualified professional seeking experience as a physician’s assistant.
“So, for some time, there won’t be another viral video of an ECG being conducted by untrained staff. However, several hospitals rely on staffers to take ECGs. These staff members are trained beforehand. In this case, too, the individual was not left unsupervised and performed the ECG under the presence of doctors,” the senior doctor clarified.
Meanwhile, advocate Abid Abbas Syed has served a legal notice to BMC and state health department officials, demanding immediate corrective measures.
