Bhubaneswar: Odisha Health Department constituted a four-member committee to probe into the alleged misbehaviour shown towards Keonjhar BJP MLA and Opposition chief whip Mohan Charan Majhi by the officials of BR Life Kalinga Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Das ordered for the probe and directed the Committee to submit a report within seven days.
As per reports, BR Life Kalinga Hospital had allegedly detained the body of one Sachin Barik of Naradpur village in Keonjhar district, who died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. Family members of the deceased alleged that Sachin's body was detained by the hospital after they failed to pay the pending dues.
Following a request from Sachin’s family, the BJP legislator intervened into the matter and held discussion with the hospital’s DGM. But instead of considering Majhi’s request, the Hospital DGM along with staff of the Accounts Section refused to release the body citing non-payment of pending bills and allegedly humiliated the legislator.
When the minister was informed about the incident, he ordered for an inquiry.
Meanwhile, the hospital issued a written statement saying that the MLA confronted the hospital staff and demanded a complete discount of the due amount.
“We, at BR Life Kalinga Hospital, always ensure that every patient of ours are handled with utmost compassion and care and offer the best in class and quality services, even in times of unfortunate deaths of our patients. Today, we were reported of 25-year-old Sachin Kumar Barik (patient)’s death at 7 am yesterday due to Metabolic Encephalopathy and Septic Shock,” said a spokesperson of the hospital.
The hospital further said, “In this time of grief, we waited for his family members to claim the body, who had assured us that they would clear the outstanding amount of Rs 12,000 under OSTF norms and take the body with them. However, at around 11 am, our billing department was confronted by the MLA, who came to our premises and demanded a complete discount of the due amount while claiming the body. In this scenario, the hospital management is fully aware that as per Supreme Court order and OSTF norms, of the fact that the body will not be held, as such, the hospital management spoke to him and requested for a written statement on clearing the dues later and take the body with them.”
“Unfortunately, this led to a heated discussion which was later on settled by refunding Rs 6000 from their total due amount of Rs 12,000. The matter was soon amicably resolved and the body was released at 12:25 PM as per hospital records,” added the hospital's spokesperson.