Jharsuguda: In an instance reeking of apathy in the State's healthcare management, a security guard in a government hospital was found checking a patient's blood pressure in absence of a doctor in Jharsuguda district of Odisha. The incident, was reported in Laikera primary health centre (PHC) in the district, has fuelled public resentment after a video went viral on social media.

The absent doctor on duty, identified as Tankeswar Budula, has been transferred to another PHC in Remata under Lakhanpur block, after a five-member team formed by the chief district medical officer carried out a probe into the incident.

Sources said this has been the state of affairs for quite some time with the security guard giving medical services to patients on several occasions in the absence of doctors.

As per reports, the guard attends to patients after 11 am in the absence of doctors and pharmacists. Apart from his security duty, he enters names of patients in the register, checks their temperature, blood pressure and even prescribes medicines. Patients alleged that complaints regarding this had been raised but nothing has been done by the hospital authorities till now.