Jamshedpur Hospital owner arrested after probe over medical negligence

Saryu prod to CM to avert closure of 111 Save Life Hospital 

Jamshedpur, May 23: Seraikela-Kharsawan district police is learnt to have arrested Dr O. P Anand, owner of the  Adityapur-based 111 Save Life Hospital who shot into news for abusing state health minister Banna Gupta and not cooperating with health department which had gone to probe alleged medical negligence of Covid patients and charging exorbitant rates. 

DIG Kolhan Rajiv Ranjan Singh though confirmed over the phone about the hospital owner being taken by the police late in the evening for questioning. However, none of the district officials were able to confirm his arrest or did not pick up phone calls. 

It is being learnt that Dr Anand would be likely produced before a magistrate late in the night seeking judicial custody. 

The administration team probed for third consecutive day on Saturday  against the hospital. The probe was being carried out after complaints of death of two Covid patients due to alleged callousness of the hospital administration. The relatives of both the deceased patients were also called for presenting their views at the community health centre in Gamharia where they were asked for about two hours. 

The team met the two deceased patient late Sunil Kumar Jha (resident of Rain Basera in Adityapur) and late Pushpa Kumari (resident of Kadma). Daughters of late Sunil Kumar Jha, Jyotsana Jha and Nidhi Jha presented their grievances while daughters of late Pushpa Kumari, Priti Kumari and Priya Kumari narrated about their harassment by the hospital authorities to the administration team. 

They accused the hospital authorities of mental harassment, fleecing money in the name of treatment and also presented documents against the hospital authorities. 

They said that they had deposited the amount of Rs 70,000 required by the hospital online only after which oxygen supported bed was allocated to their patient. On April 28 their father was put on ventilator but soon they were told that their father was improving and on April 29 without trained doctors the ventilator was taken out from their father after which their condition got critical and was put again on ventilator but their father died on April 30. 

During the course they had deposited online Rs 1.60 lakh to the hospital.

The hospital has failed to give them receipt of the payment done.  They also accused Dr Sarita Anand, wife of the owner Dr O. P Anand of speaking rudely and using abusive language. They demanded stern action against the hospital. 

Incidentally, after the last Saturday episode when the hospital owner Dr O. P Anand had hurled abuse at the health minister and did not cooperate with the health department team the Seraikela Kharsawan SP, Mohammed Arshi had directed for logging of a case. The case was eventually lodged on the basis of complaint lodged by acting civil surgeon at the RIT thana and a probe was begun. The district deputy commissioner also sought a report within 72 hours from an administrative team led by an additional deputy collector.   Cases were lodged under IPC section 340, 341, 323, 304, 353, 506 and 188. 

Meanwhile, Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy on Sunday wrote to chief minister Hemant Soren  to find a solution to the ongoing controversy over 111 Save Life Hospital in Adityapur.

The MLA who is a former BJP leader said that going by the reports published in the media it appears that the hospital is on the verge of closure due to administrative interventions. Last year too, Medica Hospital in Bistupur was closed down without any valid reasons as neither Tata Steel, administration or government was able to give any concrete reason for its closure. 

It is surprising that during Corona period where there are demands for increasing oxygen beds and hospital beds there are instances of closure of hospitals. 

The hospital administration misbehaved with the health department team which had gone for inspection and also used bad language against the health minister. But the hospital owner sought apology for his language and behaviour. The issue should have stopped there itself after clinical examination of the hospital. If the minister was not satisfied with the apology of the hospital owner then complaints should have been lodged under valid section of the law against the hospital authorities and action taken as per law. 

But things is that instead of clinical inspection, administration investigation has begun which has led to a scenario of closure of the hospital. 

The letter further recalls that the hospital was inaugurated by erstwhile chief minister Raghubar Das in 2018 during Global Investment Summit as a role model. The administration should undertake whatever investigation it requires but also ensure that similar investigation is done of the other health centres in Jamshedpur and Adityapur and steps should be taken so that hospital is not closed down. 

The government should consult experts and form an advisory for running private hospitals and if the hospital violate the protocols in the advisory then strict action should be taken against them.