A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Orissa High Court over alleged gross mismanagement and negligence in treatment of patients in Covid hospitals and denying of dignity to Covid deceased during cremation.
Advocate Bibhuti Bhusan Choudhury has filed the petition highlighting a disturbing incident at a Covid hospital in Baripada where patients, including a woman, were seen lying naked on the floor of a washroom and bed. Besides, Choudhury has also drawn the attention of the court regarding cremation of bodies of multiple Covid victims in a single pyre at a cremation ground in Bolangir district.
Choudhury urged the HC for a court-monitored probe into these incidents and demanded action against the hospital authorities and other officials responsible for such incidents.
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The petitioner further requested the court to direct the government to install CCTV cameras in all Covid hospitals functioning in the State. Moreover, he urged the court to pass directions for strict implementation of government guidelines in all Covid care centres across the State.
State Chief Secretary, Health Secretary and Collectors of Mayurbhanj and Bolangir have been made respondents in the petition.
“The way Covid hospitals are exploiting the patients is really unfortunate and condemnable. Patient were seen lying in the washroom in Baripada and no was there to attend to them,” said the petitioner.
He said Covid deceased are being denied dignity. In Bolangir, 10 bodies were cremated in a single pyre in which is against the tenets of Hindu religion.
“These incidents should be probed under the supervision of High Court and stringent action should be taken against officials responsible for it. Moreover, CCTV cameras should be installed in all Covid centres so that the patients’ relatives can see how their near and dear ones are being treated,” the petitioner added.