There are rules to follow while appointing the chief aviation medical assessor
The Patan High Court has upheld the decision of the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) to suspend cardiologist Rishi Khatri's licence for one year for medical negligence that resulted in the death of a Nepal Airlines pilot in November 2020 from a massive heart attack. The NMC had suspended the doctor's licence in July 2021, against which Khatri had filed an appeal at the Patan High Court in December. The NMC held the doctor responsible for overlooking the treadmill test (TMT) conducted in November 2019 that had anticipated a heart attack. According to medical experts, such a medical report should have led to the immediate suspension of the pilot's medical wellness certificate, while alerting Rana about his health condition. Rana was admitted to hospital on November 24, 2020 after he felt uncomfortable while preparing to command an NAC flight to Kuala Lumpur that very night. He was pronounced dead the following day. One can well imagine the scenario if the mishap had taken place midway during the flight.
The NMC has not only suspended Dr Khatri's licence for a year but also ordered him to undergo a year's training before resuming practice, which indeed is very humiliating.
NMC took the action after Rana's spouse lodged complaints against heart disease specialist Rishi Khatri and Rajeeb Kumar Deo, former civil aviation medical assessor of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in March last year, accusing them of negligence that led to the "untimely death of her husband". The chief aviation medical assessor (CAMA) is responsible for examining the medical test reports of pilots before ascertaining them fit to fly. In Captain Rakesh's case, evidences point to the fact that CAMA Deo completely overlooked Rana's TMT and ECHO reports that showed flaws. CAAN renewed late captain Rana's licence based on the 'fit to fly' report issued by Deo. Questions have arisen if CAAN's then medical assessor, who is an oncologist, was authorised to analyse ECG or ECHO reports.
Such aberrations on the part of CAAN weigh heavily on Nepal's aviation sector, especially at a time when Nepali airlines, in particular Nepal Airlines, have not been allowed to fly in European skies since 2013 citing air safety concerns. The EU had enforced the ban given the high rate of accidents in Nepal – on average of two accidents a year from 2008 to 2012. However, hopes are high that the EU will finally lift the ban soon after a technical team of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) of the EU seemed positive about Nepal's aviation safety following an audit of the sector from October 7 to 9.
It is not only important that CAAN improves the technical sector of Nepal's aviation, the physical fitness of the pilots flying the planes is equally important. The health assessment of pilots must be carried out according to the standards set by ICAO, the international aviation regulator. Also, there are rules to follow while appointing the chief aviation medical assessor and aviation medical examiner (AME), and they must be adhered to strictly.
Connections cannot be a criteria for their appointment. Rana's death as a result of medical and professional negligence should serve as a lesson for all.
Homeless people
As many as 10,714 people were rendered homeless by the recent floods and landslides in Karnali Province, the most impoverished region of the country.
According to police, the largest number of people, totaling 5,282, had become homeless in Mugu district. A total of 36 people were killed in the floods and landslides triggered by the unusual monsoon rains, which lashed the region during the first week of October. Unusual monsoon rains have become the norm in recent times due to climate change and global warming.
Haphazard construction of rural roads in the sloppy and fragile areas of the region has also contributed to the massive landslides and floods that have washed away many villages, once thought to be safe for settlement and farming. Considering the high rate of landslides and floods in the region, which receives less rainfall even during the monsoon, the local and provincial government should build roads taking into account the geological condition of the hills and mountains. The sub-national governments should also focus on planting trees in the landslide-prone areas. They should come out with a plan of action to resettle the people displaced by the natural disasters to safer locations along with a provision of livelihood supports for them.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 20, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.