Sweeper allegedly administering injections at Ganderbal health facility

Srinagar,  Jul 9: In a shocking video that has surfaced on social media, a sweeper at a Government health facility in Ganderbal is seen administering an injection, and dangerously, to a patient. Acknowledging that he is neither trained, nor authorised to inject, he says he is ‘just following orders’ of his higher-ups.

The short video reportedly from Primary Health Center Shuhama showed a middle-aged man about to inject some medicine into the vein of a female patient. The attendant takes the syringe from him, to show that the syringe still had air in it, while the man was about to insert the needle into the vein of the patient. The entry of air into the vein through a syringe can cause air embolism – the air bubble blocks the vein causing flow to impede or stop. This could prove fatal in some cases.

The attendant identifies the person administering the injection as a sweeper working in the hospital. The sweeper acknowledges that he is not trained to administer the injection, nor is he authorised. “I have been directed by ZMO,” he says.

The attendant asks the ‘sweeper’ why is doing a job that is the responsibility of paramedical staff, to which he gets a reply that the hospital is short of staff and they have no option. “I have injected lakhs of injections till now,” the person claims as he is confronted over the dangerous practice.

The dangerous incident highlights the gross apathy of the health systems in Kashmir towards patient safety. It amply shows, if true, that the administrators in peripheral health systems have put the lives of patients at risk. “The BMO knows but what would he do? I have also been doing dressings,” the person confronted in the video claims.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ganderbal when contacted said he was busy with Yatra and refused to talk about the incident. “We have ordered an inquiry,” he said while snapping the call.  The video was shared over many platforms, evoking public outrage.