Health min visits Koraput hospital, orders probe into patients’ deaths | Bhubaneswar News
Koraput: A day after six patients died at SLN Medical College and Hospital here, allegedly due to wrong medication, state health and family welfare minister Mukesh Mahaling visited the hospital to take stock of the situation and review corrective measures.On Thursday, the minister held a high-level meeting with district officials and a five-member expert team from SCB Medical College, Cuttack and MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, which was tasked with investigating the incident. “The expert team has been asked to submit its report within three days. If anyone is found guilty, strict action will be taken. All necessary steps are being taken to strengthen healthcare infrastructure at the medical college and across the district,” Mahaling told reporters after the meeting.Congress workers, meanwhile, staged demonstration over the hospital deaths. The Congress accused the health minister of not visiting the ICU or interacting with patients and their families. “A five-minute visit won’t solve anything. While we welcome his visit, it’s disappointing that he didn’t assess the real situation in the ICU, where four of the patients died,” said Congress leader and former MLA Nimai Sarkar.Former Koraput MP and BJD leader Jhina Hikaka echoed similar sentiments and slammed the govt for the deteriorating healthcare situation in the region.Responding to the criticism, Mahaling said the district administration was instructed to provide financial aid to the affected families from the District Red Cross Fund. Acknowledging a shortage of doctors, he said, “The govt has recently issued advertisements for the recruitment of 5,245 doctors. Once the process is completed, the issue of staff shortage will be resolved.”The minister added, “Ours is a people-oriented govt. Strengthening the healthcare system across the state remains a top priority.”
