City

VIMSAR ‘Medical Negligence’ Probe Can Open Pandora’s COVID Box In Odisha!

By
OB Bureau

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court ordering a probe into the alleged negligence or lack of timely treatment to COVID patients at VIMSAR, Burla, during the second wave of the pandemic has again reopened debate over COVID management in Odisha.

A retired judicial officer of the rank of district judge would probe the veracity of these allegations, which Bargarh-based Gyanadutta Chouhan brought to the HC’s notice.

While ordering the judicial probe on Wednesday, a two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice Savitri Ratho, posted the next hearing on the matter along with the inquiry report to November 15.

Chouhan alleged that most of the patients at VIMSAR died due to non-availability of ICU beds and acute shortage of oxygen. This is contrary to the Odisha government’s claim that it had been able to effectively manage the second wave and there was no dearth of beds or oxygen in the state. On July 7, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) PK Mohapatra said the bed occupancy had come down to 10 per cent from 95 per cent. He claimed oxygen management was very successful and there was no report of oxygen crisis from any part of the state.

In pursuance of an earlier HC order, the Health and Family Welfare Department has set up a three-member committee of senior medical professionals to inquire into these allegations and it submitted its report on May 26.

Chouhan, however, filed a counter to the findings of the committee.

On June 8, the HC asked him to place on record affidavits of at least five persons who were patients or whose close relatives or friends were victims of either medical negligence or lack of timely medical treatment at VIMSAR during the relevant period of the second resurgence of the deadly coronavirus.

Following this, Chouhan submitted affidavits of five persons to substantiate his allegations.

COVID in-charge of VIMSAR Dr Sudarshan Pothal said the hospital authorities had not yet received any information about the High Court directive.

Maintaining that there have been no irregularities in the treatment of the COVID patients, he said the VIMSAR authorities will fully cooperate in the judicial probe and provide the data.

The fresh probe could trigger new allegations about patient care and also deaths from other parts of Odisha, creating the possibility of bringing the state government’s versions under the microscope.

Notably, the government had earlier denied any possibility of undercounting of COVID-19 deaths after the High Court asked it to submit the district wise death count by July 5.

There have been allegations of fudging the COVID death figures in the past, but Chouhan was perhaps the first to file a plaint on medical negligence in the treatment of the affected patients.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Director Bobby Islam & Actor Manoj Mishra Scuffle Near Bhubaneswar DCP office

Bhubaneswar: An attempt for an amicable settlement of the dispute, involving Ollywood director Bobby Islam…

November 22, 2024

Low Pressure Over Bay Likely Tomorrow; Rain Forecast For Odisha, Night Temp To Rise Further

Bhubaneswar: Dense fog occurred at one or two places in Sundargarh and shallow to moderate…

November 22, 2024

Baba Siddique Murder Accused Used Mobile Hotspot To Evade Arrest, Here’s How

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police crime branch revealed that an accused in the Baba Siddiqui murder…

November 22, 2024

Kashika Misra Wins Golf Championship; Know About Her Odisha Roots

Bhubaneswar: Kashika Misra has created history by becoming the first Odia girl to win any…

November 22, 2024

Moscow Entitled To Strike Military Targets Of Countries That Allow Ukraine To Use Weapons…: Putin’s Warning To ‘West’

Moscow: President Vladimir Putin has warned the countries that allow Ukraine to use their weapons…

November 22, 2024

4 Held From Gujarat 5 Months After Duping Elderly Odisha Couple Of Rs 34L In ‘Digital Arrest’

Bhubaneswar: After a five-month-long investigation, Jharsuguda police in Odisha busted an inter-state cybercrime racket and…

November 22, 2024

Vedanta Expands Its ‘Swarna Prashan’ Drive In Odisha’s Rayagada & Kalahandi

Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium has expanded its ‘Swarna Prashan’ initiative, an Ayurveda-based immunisation drive, to over…

November 22, 2024

Justin Trudeau Govt Denies Linking PM Modi, Jaishankar & Ajit Doval To Criminal Activities In Canada

Ottawa: The government in Canada, led by Justin Trudeau, on Friday denied linking Prime Minister…

November 22, 2024