Security Guards Found Providing Treatment To Patients At Hospital In Odisha’s Balasore

Balasore: In a fresh example of poor healthcare management in Odisha, security guards have been found attending to patients in a government hospital of Balasore district.

A video purportedly showing one of the guards checking the blood pressure of a female patient sitting on a chair at the community health centre (CHC) at Soro has gone viral on social media.

As per reports, many patients from Balasore and Bhadrak districts depend on this CHC, which had earlier been in news for alleged mismanagement.

It is alleged that security guards are often seen issuing OPD tickets at the reception counter, checking blood pressure, and porting medical equipment. The guards also look after the garden on the hospital premises some times.

Some theft incidents were also reported at the CHC in the recent past. Sanitary fittings were  stolen in January from an under-construction toilet at the hospital, sources said.

Speaking on the issue, manager of the CHC Satyanarayan Nayak said that security guards occasionally check the blood pressure of patients through digital machines only when there is heavy rush at the hospital. Issuing OPD tickets at the reception counter is a part of their job and  they are engaged for this also.

It may be noted here that similar incidents were also seen in Anantapur CHC under Soro block in the district.