Amidst dengue scare, a patient gets platelet count 18000 at GMC&H lab, 2 lakh at pvt lab

MLC slams hospital staff for 'poor work culture'

JAMMU: It was a strange quandary for Janu Bali suffering from Dengue, when the Pathology laboratory of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), Jammu put his platelet count at 18000, only to be relieved hours later when a private laboratory confirmed his platelet count at 2 lakh, well in the normal range of 1.5 lakh to 4 lakh.
While the private laboratory's report card was a respite for young Bali, things didn't remain as rosy for hospital staff, in particular for Head of the Medicine Department, as Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Member Legislative Council Ramesh Arora attacked the premier hospital for deteriorating work culture.
MLC Arora who earlier came to limelight for his war against the Nepali street food-momos-claiming the fast food is "killing the younger generation", took to Social Networking Site Facebook alleging that patients at the premier hospital are not being attended properly and the HoD Medicine Department skips his professional duties to run a private clinic.
As the story unfolded, it came to light that the MLC on Tuesday had visited the patients suspected to be suffering with dengue at GMC&H, Jammu, where he met with a young patient, Janu Bali and checked his blood report.
"I was astounded to see that the patient's platelet count at GMC&H, Jammu Pathology lab report card was 18000 but in the same day, a private laboratory confirmed his platelet count at 2 lakh," the BJP MLC said, while raising a finger of suspicion over the work culture in the premier health institution of region.
According to experts, on an average platelet count in human blood varies between 1.5 lakh and 4 lakh.
"After noticing discrepancies in the pathology report," the MLC said, "I contacted Head of the Department (HoD) Medicine Department, GMC&H, Jammu, Dr Anil Mahajan to cross check the discrepancies by performing another test.
"But, to my surprise Dr Mahajan refused and passed the buck on to lab assistants of the hospital," he said, adding, "I admitted to his (Dr Mahajan's) point but argued for conducting another test at GMC&H Jammu to check whether the clinical report of government or hospital was wrong. He simply rejected the option."
Later in the day, the BJP MLC took up the issue to social networking site, Facebook where he alleged that patients at the premier hospital are not being attended properly and the HoD Medicine Department skips his professional duties to run a private clinic.
"Money is not everything Dr Sahab," Arora said, while edifying the HoD Medicine to perform the professional duties "with passion."
MLC Arora also said that he will take the matter with concerned higher authorities to seek action against the "erring doctor."