Thane: Nine doctors of Kalwa hospital, suspected of flouting COVID-19 rules, test positive; hospital denies accusation

Around nine doctors from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa have tested positive for Covid-19. Hospital sources claim these doctors had attended a farewell party for a medical superintendent at the hospital, where Covid norms such as social distancing and masking were blatantly flouted. However, authorities from the hospital have denied the allegation claiming these doctors are resident doctors who are treating Covid-19 patients daily.

A farewell party was reportedly held in the Kalwa hospital premises on December 30 for Dr Mehul Mahendra Thakkar, medical superintendent of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital who was retiring the following day. The event was attended by more than 100 doctors, staff and faculty. However, according to sources and a photo of the event which is in the possession of this paper clearly shows the doctors violating Covid-19 norms. They are not seen wearing masks or following social distancing norms. Now, in the first week of January, some doctors have tested positive.

Dr Prasad Patil, medical officer, Thane Municipal Corporation, confirmed that around nine doctors from Kalwa hospital had tested positive. He also said around 46 other medical staff at various hospital and Covid centres in Thane had also tested positive. When questioned whether the nine doctors were among those who had attended the farewell event, he said he was not aware about any such programme.

However, according to Bhimrao Jadhav, the dean of the Kalwa hospital, a farewell programme had been organised in the hospital on December 30 but all attendees were masked and social distancing norms had been followed.

Jadhav denied the allegation about the doctors attending the programme and said, “The programme was attended by most of the faculty, not doctors. The doctors who had tested positive are resident and practising doctors who are in regular contact with patients. With cases increasing across the state, the number of positive patients has also risen. Five to six out of every 10 patients who are tested are turning out to be positive. In such a situation, the resident doctors who are treating them too have tested positive. This is a community spread,” Jadhav said.