Kathmandu- The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Toshima Karki, has recently been doing one after the other unpleasant, indigestible and unimaginable actions. She has been in controversy since she became a candidate, but after she became a minister, various criticisms are being made about her.
When the video of her visiting Prem Prasad Acharya, who had attempted suicide on Tuesday, in the ICU was released, it became clear that she had no other option butto perform a stunt. As a doctor and a member of Nepal medical council, she did not abide the rules to visit an ICU which disturbed the essence and sensitivity of the ICU, it cannot be said otherwise that this is nothing but herstunt.
We ordinary people whose relatives are admitted in the ICU do not get to meet their patients easily. You have to wait outside the door to see when the doctor will call you. Even if you are allowed to enter, you have to meet certain criteria or obey the rules. But the minister entered the ICU with a group and camera person and even tried to touch the patient without even wearing gloves. It was nothing but the arrogance of the minister. Whether she worked in the ICU or not, it was not known or no effort was made to find out, but I have seen that what should be done and what rules should be followed
when going to the ICU, the doctors usually follow that.
Guidelines for visiting an ICU
As these patients require ample rest, only 1 visitor is allowed at any one time.
Wear isolation gown, gloves, shoe covers, mask, and use hand sanitizer before and after entering the area.
If you are asked to wait outside of the patient room, please return to the waiting area out of respect for other patient’s privacy.
Visitors may be asked by the ICU staff to leave for short periods during nurses’ report, certain procedures, and emergencies.
Visitors are asked not to visit when they have potentially infectious conditions like cold and flu or any other kind of infection.
“JO HOCHO USKO MUKH MAA GHOCHO” this proverb is an illustration of Nepal’s law enforcement. There are many laws in Nepal and all those are for common men only. Who will stop a minister? This is a country where the ICU becomes an OPD after the arrival of the minister. The way she acts in the video looks like an OPD ward or an observation ward, not an ICU of a hospital. A minister is a minister and she can change whatever she wants or do whatever she likes is an act of arrogance of a minister. Moreover, it has been made public through the media that she went under the guise of a minister without even consulting the hospital administration.
Although, health services can be needed at any time, public holidays and other national holidays do not mean that people will not get sick. Just as all the media, give information to the people 365 days, the health service also should be operated for entire 365 days. Nobody along with her seems to have any attention about that. Here everyone has to show stunts, not work, and so is with her.
In this country that worships power, if it had become public that someone from Solukhumbu talked to his or her daughter like that in a video, the police could have reached and arrested them by now or the hospital would have forgotten all duties and responsibilities and discharged the patient from there. According to the video that was made public, she asked the patient as if the police administration had treated a criminal. “How to deal with ICU patients?” A complex question mark has arisen in this general question. Watching this video, it seems that she has forgotten the background she emerged from.
The topic discussed above is a recent illustration. Even earlier, she showed the arrogance of the state minister and went on to re-inaugurate a program by replacing and cutting another ribbon which was pre scheduled to be inaugurated by a minister. Similarly, she raised an issue by saying that she should also know the plan that is decided by the minister. Could this be her childishness or arrogance? She must know this. However, which part of the society, the country and the people are benefited by forgetting her background and showing cockiness? None, why show it then, now she should realize. If she does not change her style and direction, her tenure will surely end with failure and criticism. If she is aware of this, it would be good for her, her followers and everyone.
