Two private hospitals in Rewari under scanner for 11 Covid deaths

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, October 22

Two Covid-designated private hospitals here have come under the scanner of district administrative authorities following the death of 11 Covid patients there during the past five months.

Eight of the deaths have been reported in one of the hospitals while the number of total deaths due to Covid is 34 in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Yashendra Singh has constituted a five-member committee to inquire the cause of death of the patients, treatment extended to them in the hospitals and fee charged by the hospitals from their kin.

The committee would be headed by Chief Executive Officer of Zila Parishad, Trilok Chand as representative of the DC, while Civil Surgeon Dr Sushil Mahi and three other doctors would be its members. The committee has been directed to submit its report within the next three days.

Sources said the issue of 11 deaths in the private hospitals was discussed at a meeting of the Covid Management Committee held at mini secretariat here on Wednesday. Some officials raised eyebrows over it and demanded to find out exact reasons responsible for that stating that the figure comprised one-thirds of the Covid toll in the district.

ADC Rahul Hooda urged the DC to get inquired all deaths reported in two private hospitals due to Covid by forming a committee.

“The purpose for setting up the inquiry panel is to ascertain the treatment extended to the Covid patients in the hospitals and government norms were followed or not while charging medical bills from the patients’ kin,” said Yashendra, adding that it would also help the administration in monitoring private hospitals treating the Covid patients.

Dr Vijay Prakash, Nodal Officer (Covid), said only four out of 34 deaths had taken place at Covid ward of local Civil Hospital while others (except 11 at two local Covid designated hospitals) had occurred at PGIMS Rohtak, AIIMS Jhajjar and private hospitals in Gurugram and Delhi.

He maintained 7,056 people had so far tested Covid positive in the district and 6,500 of them had recovered.