OHRC Pulls Up Hospitals In Bhubaneswar For Denying Treatment To Injured COVID-Positive Youth

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Wednesday directed a private hospital in the city to conduct surgery on an injured youth, who had tested positive for COVID-19.

Hearing a petition filed by the injured youth’s brother Pabitra Nayak, the commission issued a notice to the Director of KIMS Hospital stating that a serious patient requiring immediate attention cannot be denied treatment/surgery on the plea of COVID.

The human rights panel asked the hospital authorities to immediately take up the required surgery of the youth, Ranjit Nayak, if he was still admitted to the hospital soon after receiving a copy of this order.

The cost of the treatment will be borne by the patient, the panel added.

The commission also asked the Health Secretary to probe the alleged medical negligence and submit a report during the next hearing on October 15.

Director, Capital Hospital, Director, KIMS, Director, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar and IIC, Chandrasekharpur police station, have also been asked to submit their responses by this date.

In this petition, Pabitra mentioned that Ranjit had suffered a stabbing injury on September 8. He alleged that they had to run from pillar to post after Capital Hospital, SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, and other private hospitals turned them away as he had tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, Ranjit is admitted to KIMS Hospital, Bhubaneswar.