NIMS director gets treated at Apollo after heart stroke; draws flak

HYDERABAD: The news of Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) Director K Manohar, who suffered a heart stroke, has been hogging headlines on Wednesday, for wrong reasons. While his family and fraternity would be concerned about his well-being, the fact that he got himself admitted to the Apollo Hospitals in Hyderguda here for a full-scale treatment has come in for criticism.

NIMS, coming under the purview of the Telangana Health Department, is regarded as a premier medicare hub boasting of highly qualified medical experts besides state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Those who are criticising the NIMS director have no qualms about his rushing to the private hospital in his close proximity as an emergency measure. But they are not taking too kindly to Manohar's decision to get himself fully treated there while being the director of a reputed public hospital.

Interestingly, scores of heart patients make a beeline to the NIMS on a daily basis to get treated for their ailments under the supervision of experienced doctors. The director himself shunning the hospital and choosing a private one for his treatment is something that many are struggling to come to terms with. Those questioning Manohar's discretion claim that his decision was certain to dent the premier medicare facility's credibility and image among the public. People will find it hard to keep their faith in the premier institute henceforth, they argue.

One of those taken aback by Manohar's decision was Madivada Ramabrahmam, former chief of NIMS employees union. He said that, at first, he did not believe the news and he was shocked out of his wits when he realised it was true. Ramabrahmam feels that the development had caused a huge loss of face, not just to the cardiology department but for the entire institute.

"There is nothing wrong in approaching a nearby hospital in emergency situations. But deciding to get fully treated at the corporate hospital is unacceptable. The hospital has been shamed by its own director. I will not be surprised if the entire expenditure of his treatment is reimbursed by NIMS later," he commented sarcastically.

Ramabrahmam feels that the State Government should intervene in this matter and give the marching orders to the director for this horrendous act.