Patients at GMCH. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, April 5: The disappearance of a day-old baby from Gauhati Medical College and Hospital last Friday has shaken the authorities into installing closed circuit television cameras to keep a silent watch on visitors.

The superintendent of GMCH, Ramen Talukdar, said the flow of “unwanted” elements was responsible for many untoward incidents at the hospital, including the disappearance of an infant.

He said a baby boy, born to Geeta Boro on Thursday evening, went missing from the hospital the following day. The infant was allegedly taken away by a woman who claimed to be a personal attendant of the mother.

Swarga Boro, the father of the missing infant, said he was completely at loss. “It is my misfortune,” he lamented.

Talukdar pointed out that being a public hospital, the GMCH authorities would not be able to restrict the flow of visitors.

He said there were protests on several occasions when the private security personnel tried to stop people during non-visiting hours.

“Having a modern and hi-tech security system in healthcare institutions like GMCH is of critical importance, considering the fact that it is a place with high-value equipment, accessibility to costly and huge quantum of drugs and many entrances. While the GMCH has been taking common precautions against fire, attacks and vandalism, the heightened security requires special electronic protection solutions to help stop abduction of infants from maternity wards or threats against patients or staff, and crime of opportunity,” Talukdar said.

He said the hospital has already started installing CCTVs in sensitive zones of the hospital, including the gynaecology department, baby rooms and emergency wards.