Shamna Tasnim probe report with CM Pinarayi Vijayan

KOCHI: The report of the three-member committee, headed by Joint Director of Medical Education (JDME) Dr K. Sreekumari that probed into the death of MBBS student at Ernakulam Government Medical College Shamna Tasnim, is set to be considered by the State Cabinet. This was revealed by Health Minister K.K. Shylaja on Sunday. “The report has been forwarded to the Chief Minister and it will come before the Cabinet and a decision will be taken,” she told DC on the sidelines of a function in Kochi.

More than one-and-a-half months after the demise of Ms Shamna following the administering of antibiotic injection Ceftriaxone, the two probes conducted by the JDME and the police are yet to produce any concrete result. Anxious and depressed at the turn of events, the relatives including father K.A. Abootty are set to meet the Health Minister once again on Monday. They are upset that despite them coming from Kannur to Kochi and meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on August 27 demanding expedition of the probes into Shamna’s death, nothing has happened so far.

Meanwhile, Ms Shylaja said at the fourth meeting of Society for Heart Failure and Transplantation (SFHFT) here that the state government has sanctioned a cath lab at the Ernakulam Government Medical College with its focus on cardiac care. She said that setting up of a full-fledged cardiology department at the college also is a priority for the government but lack of cardiologists in the state was a concern. “We need specialists in the private sector to come and help the government hospitals,” Ms Shylaja told the cardiologists assembled at the venue.
The State Government has sanctioned Rs 80 crore for 10 cath labs in district hospitals and in Kalmassery Government Medical College.