Utkal Hospital on Sunday suspended its CEO Alok Lodh over an recruitment advertisement stating the post up for application was only for non-Odias and Odias would not apply for it. The action against Lodh was taken after the advertisement went viral on social media handles and the CEO was heavily criticised for the discrimination.
Under severe pressure, the hospital management put Lodh under suspension and clarified that the hospital authorities did not endorse his act.
In its statement the management wrote, “It has come to the notice of Utkal Hospital management that Dr. Alok Lodh, CEO, has posted some statements in his personal social media account without any authorization from management which has hurt the sentiments of Odias. Such act of Dr. Alok Lodh is purely his personal and Utkal Hopsital Management does not endorse such action.”
“It is hereby informed that Dr. Alok Lodh, CEO of Utkal Hospital has been immediately suspended until further investigation,” the statement further read.
On the other hand, Dr. Alok also apologised for his anti-Odia antics. He took to his social media handle and wrote, “Dear all, a recent post of mine has hurt the sentiments of many. My deepest apologises to one and all. It was not my intention to hurt anyone's sentiment nor to the people of Odisha from where I have been born and I belong. My deepest apologies.”