BHU faces litmus test as lapses dent image amid Covid-19 battle

Varanasi: The death of Covid patient who jumped off the fourth floor of SSL hospital in Banaras Hindu University on Sunday night is the fourth controversial incident that dents the image of the institute that has been leading the Covid battle in east UP.
On Sunday, hours before the death of Ankit Pathak, another Covid patient had managed to escape from the hospital, which is already the lens of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for the alleged death of a patient due to delay in treatment. Another probe is on for the swapping of bodies of two Covid patients.
BHU spokesman Rajesh Singh told TOI, “One Ajay of Dhaphi area was admitted in the Covid ward. His condition had improved and his sample for a repeat test had been sent to the laboratory, but he escaped before the arrival of his report. The proctorial board has filed a complaint at Lanka police station in this regard.”
Earlier, NHRC had taken note of a complaint by a social activist alleging that a Covid-19 patient Ajay Shukla died at SS hospital on July 20 due to alleged medical negligence.
NHRC had asked DM Varanasi to initiate necessary action in the case. DM Kaushal Raj Sharma told TOI on Monday, “ADM, finance and revenue, has completed investigation as per NHRC order and the report would be submitted in a day or two.”
In another shocking incident, the bodies of two Covid patients were swapped on August 11. Additional chief medical officer (ACMO) Jung Bahadur Singh had died of Covid-19 but his family was handed over the body of another patient from Ghazipur in a goof up.
The medical superintendent of SS hospital Prof. S K Mathur had constituted a committee to probe the lapse.
BHU had initially invited criticism for closing all outdoor patient departments of SS hospital with lockdown in March even though a huge population of east UP and neighbouring states flocks to it for healthcare.
BHU provided teleconsultancy service till the OPDs were opened on August 10 when CM Yogi Adityanath asked authorities to start maximum services in the interest of patients.
Last week, BHU was rocked by protests over VC Prof. Rakesh Bhatnagar’s remarks which students alleged were disparaging for the BHU founder after an audio of VC’s conversation with a student leader, who was demanding resumption of health card facility for students, went viral. The university then restored the free OPD registration facility for students