Savita Kumari & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Nov 12: Family members of a patient from Andaman and Nicobar Islands have leveled serious allegations against a private hospital in Kolkata for refusing to admit the critical patient in ICU, even after conducting all required tests. The private hospital, Ruby General Hospital ltd. reportedly refused to admit her due to the non-availability of ICU bed at late night.
In a letter addressed to the Nodal Officer, Directorate of Health Services A & N islands Mr. KG Das, husband of the patient informed that his wife Mrs. Smriti Das suffered from a breathing problem and was admitted at GB Pant hospital on 27th October this year. Later on, she was referred to Ruby General Hospital ltd. for her advanced treatment under Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
The patient was accompanied by her husband Mr. KG Das, her son and daughter reached the Ruby General Hospital ltd. on 09th November early in the morning and after a long drive from the airport, they reached the said hospital by 11:00 AM.
“Instead of admitting her, a staff of the hospital advised me to report to Dr. Tapan Majhi, Cardiologist and he further advised me for various tests and opinion of nephrologists in OPD. We requested the cardiologist to undertake a test after admitting her as she is a serious patient and needs oxygen support and she took two hours air journey and a long road journey from Airport. The Doctor told us we would decide whether to admit her or not after reviewing the test results. Thus a serious cardiac patient was forced to roam from one counter to another in a wheelchair”, Mr. Das alleged.
He further pointed out that at about 7 PM Nephrologists after examining her they advised him to report to an emergency room, where the patient was given medicine and a diabetic diet for the first time, and later at about 8 PM, they were informed by the Resident Medical Officer that his wife Mrs. Smriti Das cannot be admitted as there is no ICU bed vacant in the Hospital.
However, the RMO advised them to take the patient to a hospital elsewhere where in-patient ICU facilities are available. Then with great difficulties, they could contact FORTIES Hospital nearby to Ruby hospital and admitted her there at 11:18 PM on 9th November 2021. Meanwhile, the FORTIS Hospital arranged the shifting of the patient at their hospital in ambulance, said Mr. Das in his letter.
Mr. Das in his letter urged the Nodal Officer, Directorate of Health Services A & N islands to investigate the matter in the interest of patients referred to Ruby General Hospital so that such inhuman treatment to the patient can be avoided in the future.
Mr. Das has sent a copy of his letter to the Chief Secretary, Secretary Health and Media units of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Taking up this issue, when Andaman Sheekha reporter contacted a senior officer of Health Department, the officer added that during telephonic inquiry the Ruby Hospital has intimated that as the related treatment for the health issue of Mrs. Das is not available in Ruby Hospital, she was not admitted.
However, the senior officer said that the DHS has received nearly three such complaints against the same hospital and therefore this matter will be taken up very strongly with the Ministry of Health by the Health Department against Ruby Hospital.
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