A recent social media video revealed paper plates at Mumbai’s King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital seemingly made from patient reports, displaying sensitive information like medical procedures and patient details.
Former Mayor Kishori Pednekar expressed concern on X, urging the administration to take immediate action. “What is going on?? Administration wake up…! Don’t be so reckless,” Pednekar posted.
हे काय चाललंय ??
प्रशासन जागे व्हा…!
एवढा अंधाधुनी कारभार करू नका @mybmc @mybmcHealthDept pic.twitter.com/6gUw6BSSGA— Kishori Pednekar (@KishoriPednekar) July 5, 2024
In response, the hospital administration issued show-cause notices to six employees. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) formed a committee led by the Deputy Commissioner (Public Health) to investigate the incident, as reported by PTI.
Dr. Sangeeta Ravat, the Dean of KEM, clarified that the plates were not made from patient reports but from old CT scan folders intended for recycling by scrap dealers. “The oversight was that these scrap papers were not shredded before disposal,” Dr. Ravat stated to PTI.
According to BMC protocols, patient reports are sent to scrap vendors once outdated, with standard procedure requiring shredding beforehand. In this instance, the folders were repurposed into paper plates without following proper disposal protocols.
