Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 08 October 2023
In a startling incident that has raised concerns over the quality of services provided by G.B Pant Hospital, a resident of Great Nicobar, Mr. Ganesh, found a full cockroach in his meal while being treated at the hospital for a leg injury. The incident unfolded on Thursday night when Mr. Ganesh was served dinner, which included dal contaminated with the insect.
Disturbed by the shocking discovery, Mr. Ganesh promptly reported the incident to the hospital authorities. He shared the harrowing experience through voice notes and accompanying photographs of the cockroach in his meal on various WhatsApp groups. The voice notes and images quickly went viral on social media platforms.
Despite the gravity of the situation, G.B Pant Hospital, which operates under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS), has not released an official statement regarding the incident or disclosed any actions taken in response to Mr. Ganesh’s complaint.
The presence of a cockroach in food served at the lone referral hospital in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has raised serious concerns among the public. Calls for stringent action against those responsible for this appalling lapse are growing.
However, this incident sheds light on a broader issue – ANIIMS’s ongoing efforts to restrict legitimate media coverage within the hospital premises. The hospital authorities have erected signs explicitly prohibiting photography and videography, and they have reportedly filed complaints with the police against media organisations attempting to cover news within the facility.
It is important to note that G.B Pant Hospital, as a public institution, relies on public funds for its daily operations. Consequently, the media plays a vital role in disseminating information about the hospital’s activities, ensuring transparency, and holding authorities accountable.
While some public hospitals across different states in India have tried similar tactics of banning photography and videography within their premises to stifle media coverage, they have ultimately had to backtrack. Such actions are seen as a violation of the democratic principles that allow the media, often referred to as the fourth pillar of democracy, to report on public institutions.
Media organisations are well-aware of their responsibilities and have the capability to maintain patient privacy while covering news within hospital premises. The incident involving Mr. Ganesh has underscored the need for transparency and accountability in public healthcare institutions, and the media’s role in achieving this end remains crucial. The public expects that strict action will be taken to address both the issue of contaminated food and the challenges faced by media organisations in covering vital news stories within G.B Pant Hospital.