Ministry of health to ban doctors and medical students from wearing white coats
Posted on: 23/Jul/2015 10:19:06 AM
In the recent research it has been found out that doctors and medical students wearing white coats harbor potential contaminants and contribute considerably to the burden of disease acquired in hospital by spreading infection.
Edmond Fernandes, a postgraduate at Yenepoya Medical College in Bengaluru said, "Long sleeved coats spread infection and lead to avoidable harm and cost to patients. Every hospital should have a committee to check and respond to hospital acquired infections. But an easy win would be for India`s ministry of health to ban doctors and medical students from wearing white coats, to reduce the harm and cost that results from hospital acquired infections."
He said that in India, changing areas in hospitals are rare because of space constraints, so white coats are commonly worn by students coming from college and outside the hospital. They are also often left on chairs, tables, and in corridors.
He added that in many cities in India some junior doctors are also now seen wearing white coats in shopping malls and cinemas too, and then they enter sterile zones in the hospital in the same attire.
