Odisha Health Dept Orders Strict Monitoring, Crackdown On Brokers In Govt Hospitals

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department has issued instructions for strict monitoring and a necessary crackdown on brokers, who indulge in diverting patients from Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) of different government hospitals to private healthcare facilities in the state.

A letter was written to the Dean/Principal/ Superintendent of all Government Medical College and Hospitals, VIMSAR Burla, PGIMER, and Capital Hospital as well as all Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers on Thursday.

“It has come to notice that some unwanted elements are operating on the premises of high case load government hospitals, in the guise of helping patients coming from far-flung areas to locate the OPDs,” the letter read.

They demand money from the patient’s families with the false assurance of free treatment in private hospitals/clinics and often allegedly persuade patients to seek treatment in private clinics on the false information that there is no proper medical facility available at the government hospitals.

“All faculty members, treating doctors, paramedics and other staff of the government hospitals should, therefore, be requested to stay alert and to exercise strict vigil in the matter and take immediate remedial measures upon noticing any such activity in the premises of government hospitals,” it read.

The station-in-charge of the local police station should be intimated about the matter for the detention of such elements and initiation of appropriate legal action against them.

“If any faculty, treating doctor, paramedic and other staff members of the government hospitals is found operating in connivance with such elements and/or aiding and abetting them, necessary administrative actions may be initiated against them under CCA Rules apart from appropriate legal action,” the letter added.

The department has also instructed immediate steps to put proper signboards in Odia and English, from the point of entry to the hospital, giving clear directions/route charts to the location of various OPD Departments.

“The name of the OPD in Odia and English should be displayed in front of each OPD of different treating departments for knowledge of patients and their relatives,” it added.