Hospital probe: ‘Fiscal bungling’

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, August 17

The suspended Baba Ram Das Medical College principal, Dr RK Misra, and anaesthesia department head Dr Satish Kumar, responsible for the supply of liquid oxygen, were both missing when tragedy struck the hospital on the night of August 10 as oxygen supplies dried out.

This has been pointed out by a probe ordered by Gorakhpur District Magistrate Rajeev Rautela on August 11 after 30 deaths were reported in 36 hours. The report is yet to be made public. Sources claimed it pointed to several irregularities in the log and stock registers and instances of overwriting.

Observing that there was no date-wise entry of bills and payments to the firm supplying oxygen, prima facie indicating fiscal bungling, it had recommended an audit by the Department of Medical Education.

Indicting Dr Satish Kumar, responsible for maintenance and oxygen supply to the wards, it had noted that Dr Kumar and chief pharmacist Gajnam Jaiswal had not maintained any record of the oxygen cylinders and that the former had not bothered to inspect the log book or sign it.

Also, the report spoke of the “lack of coordination” between hospital’s Chief Medical Superintendent Dr Ramashankar Shukla, acting Principal Dr Ram Kumar, nodal officer (Ward No. 100) Dr Kafeel Khan and Head of the paediatrics ward Dr Mahima Mittal.