THAT’S COMBINING HOSPITALITY with hospital! This has happened never before in the history of KGMU. But, when it happened, it went unnoticed. KGMU doctors know how to promote medical tourism.
Three Chinese pilgrims Chinge, Yamu and Cheena, came to KGMU’s Trauma Centre on January 21 after a road accident. Confused, perplexed and unable to explain anything they knew no other language than Tibetan or Chinese.
Had it been any other Indian, the patients would have got the regular treatment but this was an opportunity to prove ‘atithi devo bhav’ and was rightly done by the KGMU doctors.
For a couple of hours, doctors of surgery and orthopaedics department meticulously communicated through gestures to diagnose and decide the line of treatment. Not only this, doctors took pains to update patients’ parents in China frequently.
Though it took them three hours to tell the mother of Ching his well being, for
she knew only Tibetan. Going out of the way the doctors then searched for an interpreter and they found one in Dr Rajuma in the city’s Nishatganj
area. Junior residents requested and brought Dr Rajuma with them.
For next two days, this doctor was the only means to communicate with the Chinese patients. Each question from doctors was translated to the patients and the reply, back to the doctor. Doctors even offered the pilgrims free medicines as they were marked destitute on the admission register, but they refused saying ‘no problem.’
{{/usCountry}}For next two days, this doctor was the only means to communicate with the Chinese patients. Each question from doctors was translated to the patients and the reply, back to the doctor. Doctors even offered the pilgrims free medicines as they were marked destitute on the admission register, but they refused saying ‘no problem.’
{{/usCountry}}The story does not end with the patients getting discharged for their travel ahead. There was something more.
They lodged a complaint that their money had been stolen during their stay in Trauma Centre. Unwilling to lodge an FIR, they just informed the doctors and left on their way to Nepal.
But the matter was taken up seriously by Trauma Centre authorities who set up a three-member committee comprising Casuality Medical Officer Dr Kausar Usman, Dr Narsing Verma and the accounts office Rajesh Kapoor to investigate.
The committee decided to suspend one of the employees Anil Kumar and the company that supplies manpower to the Trauma Centre, Sun facilities Services was fined with the stolen amount Rs 700, on Wednesday.
The amount of fine, according to the in- charge of Trauma Centre DR AA Mahdi, has been contributed to the Poor Patients’ Fund.
KGMU doctors did all what is required to promote Medical Tourism and despite constrains went out of the way to help patients from a foreign land, but unnoticed.