Sambalpur: Tension prevailed at a private nursing home in the town after the hospital authorities reportedly withheld a body for non-payment of `69,000 Saturday. Family members of a 22-year-old youth alleged that the private nursing home at Pirababa Chhak here refused to hand over the body until the family paid treatment cost of over `69,000.
According to sources, Narayan Banka was under treatment at the nursing home. He, however, died while undergoing treatment. Family members had spent lots of money for his treatment and were supposed to pay `69,000 more.
Failing to pay the amount, they requested the hospital authorities to give them some time but in vain. The authorities demanded the amount right away and refused to hand over the body, leading to tension, sources said.
On learning the incident, social activists reached the nursing home and gheraoed the facility demanding release of the body. Later, district health department Dr Ashok Kumar Dash reached the nursing home and launched a probe into the matter. However, the activists denied to relent.
‘The youth’s kidney and liver were damaged and he was affected by jaundice and septicemia leading to his death,’ Dash said. However, the nursing home authorities gave a contradictory statement that the youth died of malaria. They alleged that the body was withheld for investigation not for money after media persons reached the nursing home, sources said.
Family members admitted Narayan to the district headquarters hospital after he took ill. His blood tests revealed that he was affected by malaria and typhoid. He was referred to Burla-based VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) as his condition worsened.
However, the family admitted him to a private nursing home. The hospital demanded `69,000 from the family even after the youth died while undergoing treatment. The family deposited `20,000 and pleaded for some time to give the balance amount. However, the nursing home refused to hand over the body. PNN