Vikash Sharma

Bhubaneswar: At a time when Odisha government is going all guns blazing to review the implementation of 5T-Model of Governance with senior officials paying surprise visits to hospitals in remote areas, an incident of a pregnant woman delivering baby on the footpath on the premises of Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar has raised serious question on such initiatives.

As per reports, the family members of one Pana Murmu of Salia Sahi here rushed her to Capital Hospital on Friday after she complained of labour pain. After initial check-up, Murmu was shifted to the labour room.

However, the family has alleged that the doctor at the labour room did not treat the patient and sent her back citing that it was not labour pain. In contrast, hours later the woman delivered a baby on the footpath outside Blood Bank of the Hospital.

Responding to the alleged negligence on part of the concerned doctor, Capital Hospital Superintendent Narayan Sethi said, “According to the version of the labour room in-charge, the patient had come yesterday and was attended by the doctor. As there was no labour pain, the patient was returned. She again arrived at the hospital after sometime and delivered a baby.”

Sethi stated that so far they have not received any complaint regarding any negligence. Appropriate action will be taken after probe, if any complaint is lodged, he added.

On the other hand, a patient allegedly died after jumping off the roof of SCB Medical College & Hospital In Cuttack. He was initially admitted to casualty ward where he was declared brought dead. The incident has raised question that despite the presence of attendants, how did a patient take such an extreme step.

While the hospital Superintendent has assured to set up a committee for probe, police have launched an investigation into the case. "There  are adequate number of attendants in the hospital. A committee will decide what action will be taken further after an investigation," SCB Hospital Superintendent CBK Mohanty said.

"Definitely the staff of SCB hospital are responsible for the incident. It seems the government doesn't care about patients from extremely poor background," a social worker Achyut Kumar Sahu said.

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