New SOP to be formed post Eman row

Mumbai: In the wake of the war of words between the privately-run Saifee Hospital doctors and the family of Egyptian national Eman Ahmed (36) over her treatment and the hospital’s decision to discharge her, the state health minister Dr. Deepak Sawant said that a new Standard Operating Procedure  (SOP) will be formulated to improve relation with foreign countries and enhance medical tourism.

“We have taken cognisance of the issue and it is the need of the hour to have SOPs on medico-patient’s kin, so that both the parties have an idea regarding the on-going treatment,” said the state health minister Dr Deepak Sawant in the presence of union health minister J.P. Nadda.

Mr Sawant took the decision after Egyptian Eman Ahmed’s sister Shaimaa Selim (32) expressed her displeasure over the course of treatment given to Eman Ahmed at privately-run Saifee Hospital, even though the doctors claimed that they had effectively performed bariatric surgery. The doctors claimed that she was 378 kg on 7th March and when Eman Ahmed left India yesterday her weight was 170kg. The Egyptian woman stayed at Saifee for 83 days.

While speaking to The Asian Age, minister Mr Sawant said, “There was huge controversy around Eman Ahmed’s case. The SOP will strengthen the patients’ relatives and doctors relationship. What patients kin must also have an idea of what kind of treatment is being given to the patient.”

When asked how to the SOP will help foreign patients who are coming to the state for medical treatment, Mr Sawant said, “We need SOP for foreign patients who are coming to the state. Issues such as taking consent of patients, ethics and documentation will be smoothened by SOP.