Odisha instructs for strict monitoring, crackdown on brokers operating in OPDs of govt hospitals

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government issued instructions for strict monitoring and necessary crackdown on brokers indulged in diverting patients from Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) of different government-run hospitals to private healthcare facilities in the State, today.

It has come to notice that some unwanted elements are operating in the premises of high case load government hospitals, in the guise of helping the patients coming from far flung areas to locate the OPDs. They demand money from the patient’s families with the false assurance of free treatment in private hospitals and clinics, an official circular issued by Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) department Shalini Pandit mentioned.

Such brokers often persuade patients to seek treatment in private healthcare facilities on the false information that there is no proper medical facility available at government-run hospitals.

All faculties, treating doctors, paramedics and other staff of the government hospitals should therefore be requested to stay alert and to exercise strict vigil in the matter and take immediate remedial measures upon noticing any such activity in the premises of government hospitals.

The station in-charge of local police stations may be promptly intimated about the matter for detention of such elements and initiation of appropriate legal action against them. In case any faculty, treating doctor, paramedic and other staff of the government hospitals is found operating in connivance with such elements and/or aiding and abetting them, necessary administrative actions may be initiated against them under CCA Rules apart from appropriate legal action, the communiqué read.

Immediate steps must be taken to put in place proper signboards in Odia and English languages at the point of entrance to the hospitals giving clear directions and route chart to the location of various OPDs. Name of respective OPDs in Odia and English languages should be displayed in front of each OPD of different treating Departments for knowledge of the patients and their relatives.

“This may be treated as ‘Most Urgent’. Deviation, if any, in this regard shall be viewed adversely by the H&FW department, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary Pandit urged all facility Heads.