Security guard checks blood pressure of patient at Odisha hospital, doctor transferred

In yet another instance of poor healthcare management in Odisha, a security guard of a government hospital was found checking the blood pressure (BP) of a patient in the absence of a doctor.

The bizarre incident has been reported from Laikera Primary Health Centre in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district. The matter came to the fore after a video of the incident went viral on social media.

As per sources, the security guard provides treatment to patients in the absence of doctors after 11 am apart from his usual security duty. 

According to some patients, the security guard would attend to them, enter their names in the register, check their temperature, Blood Pressure and also prescribe their medicines instead of the doctor or pharmacists.

This isn’t the first time, the security guard has been found giving medical services on several occasions, but no steps were taken in this regard so far, it was alleged. 

Soon after the incident came to the fore, Jharsuguda Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) formed a five-member team to probe the incident. Following the probe, the doctor identified as Tankeswar Budula was transferred to Remata Primary Health Centre in Lakhanpur block.

The reaction of the concerned doctor and the security guard could not be obtained in this connection.