Bengaluru: Lokayukta initiates suo-motu proceedings against 3 more govt hospitals

BENGALURU: The Lokayukta, justice BS Patil on Wedensday, initiated suo-motu proceeding against three more government hospitals — Vanivilas Women and Children Hospital at KR Road, Ghosha Hospital at Shivajinagar, and Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopedics (SGITO) at Byrasandra, Jayanagar.
The Lokayukta had initiated the procedings against six other government hospitals and 10 BBMP-run hospitals in the past week. Thus bringing the total count of government hospitals acted against to nine.
On August 22, Justice Patil had convened a meeting with judicial officials and police officials of the Lokayukta after receiving complaints with regard to lack of basic health facilities and maladministration in the functioning of government hospitals.
He directed officials to chalk out an action plan and make surprise visits to various government hospitals in Bengaluru including those managed by the BBMP to find out the basic problems faced by patients.
Ten teams were formed comprising a judicial officer, deputy superintendent of police and two or three police inspectors. The teams were monitored by the superintendent of police, Karnataka Lokayukta. They were assigned to visit 21 government or BBMP managed hospitals in Bengaluru city, to submit reports on illegalities, irregularities and discrepancies found during their inspection.
At the three government hospitals, inspecting teams found there were several posts vacant as opposed to the sanctioned strength.
At Vanivilas Women and Children Hospital at KR Road, no dedicated staff was found to attend POCSO or rape victims examination. Two nurses were looking after 60 inpatients. Lady doctors were overstressed and burdened as many victims under POCSO cases were to be examined and the same doctors were to continue their night shifts and could not effectively handle many inpatients and OPD patients. Patients complained that there is a delay in doctors attending them and inpatients and attendants also complained that doctors are not making proper rounds. The team found stinking toilets and that no cleanliness was maintained. There was also a shortage of space for storage of medicines. Water was seeping from the walls. Steel cots provided to patients were rusted. There was no separate building to attend to OPD patients and therefore there was overcrowding.
At Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopedics (SGITO) at Byrasandra, Jayanagar , the team noted that the cash declaration register was not maintained. The public complained about less quantity of food being served for a higher charge at the hospital canteen run by a private contractor.
At Ghosha Hospital at Shivajinagar, few cots were found rusted in the inpatient wards. Due to inadequate space, there was no provision made for OPD patients to sit and wait their turn to see the doctor. Patients were also found standing outside the hospital building. Construction debris was found within the hospital premises and dust was entering the hospital causing inconvenience to patients and new borns. Cash declaration register was not maintained. Services of outsourced nursing staff was utilised and complaints was that such nurses quit without notice and replacement was not given immediately.