Hospital staff found consuming liquor at SCB trauma casualty ticket counter in Odisha, video viral

Cuttack: Authorities of the renowned SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Cuttack district were left red-faced after a video showing one of its employees consuming alcohol in the ticket counter of the trauma casualty ward went viral in social media. Investigation by the SCB authorities revealed that the staff in the video was Santosh Kumar Dash, a lift operator at the hospital. While Santosh has been suspended, official sources informed that managing director of the service-providing firm Subrat Samal has been served show-cause notice and instructed to terminate services of the accused staff.

The clip, which showed Santosh was seen consuming liquor in presence of a female staff at the  trauma casualty ticket counter, has raised serious concerns about the state of affairs at the hospital. It is also being alleged that other staff were complicit as in the video, the female worker showed no sign of opposition while Santosh was seen crouching under the counter and taking alcohol.

Hospital administrator Dr Abhinash Rout said after the video surfaced, he had directed trauma casualty in-charge Dipak Nayak to conduct an inquiry. The report revealed that Santosh was one of the 39 lift operators engaged at the hospital through a service provider. “The lift operator had no business at the ticket counter. It is possible he sneaked in the alcohol in a bag. We have interrogated Santosh in the first phase of our probe. The female staff will be quizzed next as to why she allowed him to enter the place. We will find out who all were involved in the incident and take necessary action,” he said, adding that it will be ensured that Santosh will not be allowed to work as a service provider in any capacity on the hospital premises.

Dr Rout also said that surprise visits are being conducted to step up vigil and prevent such incidents from occuring in future.