Brahmanand Hospital Jamshedpur under fire, probe exposes excessive drug use, inflated bills

Mail News Service

Seraikela, Aug 23: A three-member Health Department inquiry committee has raised serious concerns over treatment practices at Brahmanand Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Tamolia, following two patient deaths during hospitalization. The probe found evidence of “unnecessary and excessive administration of medicines, including life-saving drugs,” along with inflated bills and recommended a high-level investigation.

The inquiry was initiated after multiple complaints were filed by Kundan Rai and others. Acting on these, the Civil Surgeon-cum-Chief Medical Officer of Seraikela-Kharsawan formed a probe team comprising Dr. Anirban Mahato (Nodal Officer, Clinical Establishments Act), Dr. Chandan Kumar (Seraikela Sadar Hospital) and Assistant Officer Dhanpat Mahato. The on-site inspection was conducted in the presence of Hospital Manager Rakesh Kumar and Superintendent Dr. Mukesh Kumar.

In the first case, 63-year-old Purnvasi Rai, admitted on August 1, died during treatment on August 3. The hospital provided only the final bill, withholding records of investigations and procedures. The committee found that within 45 hours, the patient was administered 36 doses of Noradrenaline, 12 doses of Ondansetron, 14 of Pantoprazole and abnormally high quantities of medical consumables. “Despite no visible wounds, items like gauze, surgical tape and cotton rolls were billed excessively,” the report stated.

In the second case, 70-year-old Bali Mahato, admitted on August 10 and deceased on August 16, similar discrepancies emerged. The patient was billed for 16 doses of Ondansetron, 17 of Paracetamol infusion, 17 of Clindamycin, 226 gloves and five Ryle’s tubes within 126 hours of treatment—quantities far beyond reasonable medical use. Again, no treatment records were provided apart from the final bill.

The committee concluded that “the hospital appears to be administering overdoses of critical medicines unnecessarily, which could harm patient health.” It further observed that the hospital inflated bills by adding unjustified items.

“The pattern strongly suggests that such practices are not isolated incidents but may be widespread across patients,” the committee warned, recommending a high-level probe to determine accountability and ensure patient safety.