Post News Network
Nayagarh, Jan 8: The Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Nayagarh Thursday ordered a probe into the detention of two women by a private nursing home here as they failed to clear the arbitrary medical bills. Two pregnant women, who were admitted to Rashmi Hospital here, are not being discharged for over 20 days as their families are unable to pay the hospital fees. CDMO Dr Hadubandhu Routra prima facie has found several discrepancies by the nursing home.
Significantly, middlemen had lured the families of the patients to admit them to the hospital. In the first case, Mamita Nayak of Gayagonda in Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district had come to the district headquarters hospital after she complained of labour pain 23 days ago. But, a middleman present on the hospital premises convinced her family to take her to a private hospital in the town. Following this, her family members admitted her to Rashmi Hospital, where she delivered a baby. But, the clinic authorities are not discharging her even after over 20 days.
Mamita’s mother Basanti claimed the hospital authorities were refusing to discharge her as they have not cleared the bills. “We have deposited Rs 13,000 towards medical expenses in several phases. But, the hospital authorities are demanding Rs 8,000 more. As we are unable to pay the amount, they are not releasing my daughter,” Basanti said.
She further said the doctors have not even removed the stitches from her daughter’s abdomen due to delay in payment. Basanti also alleged the hospital staff locked her inside a room for several hours Tuesday night and assaulted her, besides looting Rs 2,000 and a mobile phone from her.
The whole incident came to light after some persons spotted her crying outside the hospital Wednesday. They took her to the local police station where she lodged a complaint. Police have launched an investigation into the incident. However, the hospital owner Rashmibala Devi refuted the allegations that Basanti was assaulted by the hospital staff.
She also rubbished the charge that stitches have not been removed from the patient’s abdomen. “Stitches on her abdomen have been removed. But, we had not informed her family members about this as we had apprehensions that they would not pay the fees after knowing this,” Devi claimed.
She, however, made it clear that she will not allow the patient to leave the hospital until her family pays the fees.
In the second incident, Nilendi Pradhan had come to Daspalla hospital 22 days ago. A middleman had persuaded her family to take her to Rashmi Hospital where she delivered a baby. But, she is yet to be discharged 21 days after delivery as her family has not made the payment. Nilendi said the hospital is demanding Rs 4,000 more from her family to discharge her.