Thiruvananthapuram: Onam celebrations in one of the operation theatre complexes of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital on Saturday raised serious questions about the safety of patients.
The OT staff, including doctors, had laid a massive floral carpet right in front of the theatre complex door. Besides, they arranged an Onasadya (traditional feast) for the entire staff in the pre-sterile area.
While the organisers justified the celebrations saying that though the floral carpet and sadya were arranged on the OT premises, there was no threat to the sterile area.
Meanwhile, health minister V.S. Sivakumar has ordered an inquiry into the incident. He directed the MCH authorities to submit a detailed report.
Experts said holding such events even in pre-sterile areas could lead to infection and bacteria entering the sterile zone which is just two doors away. Operation theatres should be made bacteria-safe.
None of the good medical college hospitals would allow such activities in an operation theatre complex. “At the most, one can have a cup of payasam or cut a small cake for a few people. But having a crowd coming to eat sadya is unthinkable,” said a doctor.
Meanwhile, Medical College principal Dr Thomas Mathew said that floral carpet was laid almost 100 feet away from the sterile area. Onasadya was arranged in a room which was earlier used for pain and palliative care for terminally ill patients.
“Onam celebrations and pooja have been happening for many years in the waiting area of OT complex. Anyway, we have now cleaned up the area.
