Cuttack: Following media reports on death of an unknown person, whose body was found lying inside the premises of SCB Medical College and Hospital here on Sunday, the hospital authorities have decided to open a special ward for destitute patients.
Talking to mediapersons here on Monday, SCB Emergency Officer Dr Bhubanananda Maharana said that a decision has been taken to open special wards for the destitute patients in five departments— Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Medicine, Obstetrics & Paediatrics— within a week.
The body of an old man with a swarm of flies all over his face was found lying near the Medicine ward of the hospital at around 8 am on Sunday. Near the body was a packet of biscuits, a water bottle and a slender stick.
While a roadside shopkeeper said he had seen the old man lying under the tree after he came here to open his shop at 3 am, an eyewitness said he had seen him at about 7 am.
Following information, a team of mediapersons reached SCB and informed the hospital authorities. Acting on the information, the authorities informed the police who arrived at the spot and removed the body of the old man with the help of the volunteers.
Expressing grave concern over the incident, social activist and volunteer Rini Mohanty said if such incident takes place inside the premises of a premiere government hospital, the plight of the destitute patients in the state can be imagined pretty well.
Chairperson of the Regional Development Trust, Ramesh Chandra Sahu said the old man was discharged from the ward a week ago. He, however, said that the hospital authorities had no control over the destitute patients. “We cannot forcibly keep them in the ward. In most cases, these patients leave the hospital without informing the authorities,” he pointed out.
When asked about the incident, the SCB principal said he had no information about it.
