Mid-Town Hospital Closed for Violating Clinical Establishment Act, 2016

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Lakhimpur district administration has taken strict action against Mid-Town Hospital of North Lakhimpur town. The hospital has been temporarily closed for violating the Clinical Establishment Act, 2016. As per the report, the hospital allegedly does not have bio-medical waste management license, no objection certificate from Fire and Emergency Department, medical gases license and explosive license, pollution-free certificate, Memorandum of Understanding with vendors, and authorization of hospital care management. Moreover, the management of the hospital has not installed the lift system for patients. The Investigating Committee constituted for the inquiry into the various allegations against the hospital a month ago, found out these discrepancies and the district administration has initiated the strict move against the hospital as per the report submitted by the Investigating Committee. It will be enforced until and unless the management fulfill the norms.

A tense situation prevailed in the hospital on August 28 following allegations of treating patients with expired medicines, rendering of open surgery instead of laparoscopic surgery against the patient’s will and charging a large amount of money as medical fees. Regarding these issues, North Lakhimpur Police arrested the proprietor of the private sector nursing home along with the pharmacist and the salesman and sealed the pharmacy after a bundle of expired medicine was recovered.

A case is under trial at present regarding the expired medicine discovery issue. Further, the district administration constituted the Investigating Committee comprising magistrate Monjit Borkakati, Dr Hemanta Dutta, Dr Arpana Dutta and Dr Jagadish Goswami, which meanwhile has submitted the enquiry report, though it has not been made public.