Odisha govt de-empanels SUM Hospital after fire tragedy

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 21:

The state government today de-empanelled Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital from Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF) with immediate effect.

“I am directed to say that in the wake of the fire incident in IMS and SUM Hospital on 17.10.2016 and disarray in the treatment of patients in your hospital; it has been, decided by the Government to de-empanel your hospital with immediate effect.  Since the proposed de-empanelment is resorted under exceptional circumstances in the interest of the poor patients of the state, the formality of one month notice as per MoU has not been adhered to,” said the letter issued to the Medical Superintendent of Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital by Dr. Prakash Chandra Mohapatra, Director Medical Education & Training.

The state government apart from delisting Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital from the list of empanelled hospitals and OSTF it has also excluded it from the list of hospitals to provide treatment to patients under Rashtriya Swasthiya Bima Yojana (RSBY).

Notably, 19 patients were killed and over 100 were critically injured in a major fire at Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital on Monday. With six more relocated patients succumbing, the death toll due to the fire has reached 25 today.