BMC-run KEM hospital uses medical reports as paper plates; sends notice to 6 staffers
A video went viral last week, showcasing health reports of patients being converted into use-and-throw paper plates.
Date: July 8, 2024
As per the latest report, it has come to light that six staff members of civic-run King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Mumbai received show-cause notices.
This step was taken by the hospital administration following a video that went viral last week, showcasing health reports of patients being converted into use-and-throw paper plates.
Shocking !!! Medical Reports Of Patients Dumped Into Scrap From Mumbai's King Edward Memorial Have Been Turned Into Paper Plates. This Video Has Been Going Viral On Social Media.#KEM#Mumbai pic.twitter.com/IszhU9ixa9
— Pune Pulse (@pulse_pune) July 6, 2024
Sharing the video on X, former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar alleged “gross negligence” by the hospital management.
हे काय चाललंय ??
— Kishori Pednekar (@KishoriPednekar) July 5, 2024
प्रशासन जागे व्हा…!
एवढा अंधाधुनी कारभार करू नका @mybmc @mybmcHealthDept pic.twitter.com/6gUw6BSSGA
In response, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration was forced to appoint a single-member committee of the deputy municipal commissioner (public health) to investigate the entire incident and also issue memos to staffers handling documents at the hospital.
Later, BMC also sought an explanation from the KEM Hospital dean.
Clarifying on the matter, Dr Sangeeta Ravat, KEM hospital dean, said that the plates were not made from patients’ reports but from old folders of CT scans that were given to scrap dealers.
According to a BMC statement, patients typically receive their CT scan, MRI, and X-ray reports in paper folders. These old folders were subsequently given to scrap vendors. However, the concerned folders had not been shredded before being repurposed into paper plates.
The civic body indicated that the work assigned to the scrap vendor was not completed properly and has issued memos to those responsible for overseeing the process.