Bokaro district hospital head under lens for neglecting Covid patients

BOKARO: The deputy superintendent and head of the Bokaro district hospital, Dr Renu Bharti, has been showcaused on Saturday for dereliction of duty towards Covid-19 patients when the infections are surging in the district.
DC Rajesh Singh asked Dr Bharti to respond to the notice, which asked her to explain her stand within 24 hours and explain why an FIR should not be filed against her under the relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The notice also asked her to explain why her medical licence should not be cancelled.
Singh said, "Dr Bharti was found ignoring the Covid-19 patients. She was not sensitive to their problems and not coming to the office for duty on time."
Dr Bhart's negligence was detected when a joint team, including district civil surgeon-cum-chief medical officer Dr A K Pathak and Chas sub-divisional officer (SDO)Shashi Prakash Singh (IAS), found that the 30-bed Covid ward of the district hospital was not being operated seriously. The team also found that the Covid patients and their families have been regularly complaining about negligence.
Despite the critical condition of the patients, neither doctors nor nurses were present in the hospital. Dr Bharti was also unable to provide the list of doctors, nurses and other personnel deputed in the Covid ward to the inspecting SDO. She was also not able to explain details of the bed management.
Recommending stern action against the deputy medical superintendent, the SDO in his report said Covid patients in the hospital could die of negligence and poor management.