Following complaints, private hospital sealed in Madhepura

Madhepura: Following complaints, the health department on the directive of Madhepura DM Abhishek Ranjan sealed a private clinic here on Friday.Patients already admitted there were shifted to the sadar hospital for further treatment.

The patients alleged that the private hospital charged exorbitant money and harassed them.The health department took the action after a complaint by Prakash Mandal and his wife Meera Devi, residents of Rasna village ward no. 9 under Gwalpara police station area in Madhepura.Meera alleged that after experiencing labour pain, she was rushed to Gwalpara PHC from where the doctor referred her to Madhepura sadar hospital.

An ambulance was hired to take Meera to Madhepura, however, some brokers stopped the vehicle and asked her to rush to a private hospital, stating that the govt hospital was facing a bed crunch.Her caretakers took her to the private hospital.Meera further alleged that the hospital administration charged over Rs50,000 and left the newborn uncared which led to his death. “We were forcibly driven out of the hospital,” she added.

After verification of the complaint, a team of doctors led by Madhepura civil surgeon Vijay Kumar, took action and sealed the hospital. Further legal action would be taken against the hospital after verification of the papers, the civil surgeon said. “Our campaign against the mushrooming growth of unauthorised private clinics across the district will continue,” he added.