Post News Network
Boipariguda, April 5: In yet another incident of harassment by ambulance operators, the staff of a 108 ambulance refused to shift a 12-year-old patient to Jeypore sub-divisional hospital and took him back to Boipariguda community health centre where he was earlier treated after his parents failed to pay bribe.
The 12-year-old Prahallad Takri of Haldimajhiguda village was admitted in Boipariguda CHC Saturday as he was suffering from malaria. As his condition worsened, the doctors referred him to Jeypore sub-divisional hospital.
His father then contacted the control room of the agency which is providing 108 ambulance services and urged the authorities to send an ambulance to Boipariguda CHC.
Thereafter, a 108 ambulance from Kundura health centre was sent to Boipariguda CHC. But, after crossing half kilometre distance from the CHC, the ambulance driver and a pharmacist demanded `200 bribe from the patient’s father Madhu Takri.
Madhu expressed his inability to pay the money as he is very poor. After his refusal to pay the bribe, the ambulance staff decided not to take them to Jeypore hospital and took them back to Boipariguda CHC. Even, they removed the patient from the ambulance and put him in the bed allotted to him in the health centre.
The patient’s father then lodged a complaint regarding the incident with the hospital authorities. But, both the ambulance staff refuted the allegation that they had demanded bribe from him. They rather claimed that they had decided to bring them back to Boipariguda CHC after the patient’s family members refused to go to Jeypore sub-divisional hospital. Both the staff later left the CHC premises and went to Kundura.
Meanwhile, a doctor of the CHC made an alternative arrangement for shifting the patient to Jeypore.
