In order to encourage pregnant women to come to Government hospitals for delivery of their babies for the purpose of minimising child mortality rate there is a provision for giving monetary assistance of Rs 1,400 to the patient. But in the Champua Sub-Divisional Hospital of Keonjhar district, the doctors allegedly demanded bribe for the purpose, though they are also paid non-practising allowance for the same.
Sources revealed that on November 23, one Saraswati Munda, wife of Budhuram Munda of Jamukundia village of Anseikala panchayat under Joda block, had been admitted in the Champua Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH) as a delivery patient. On November 24, she gave birth to a female child. The practising doctor Karnaram Mahanta asked her to stay for a few days more on the ground that the patient was suffering from insomnia.
However, on the date of release that is on December 1, Dr Mahanta allegedly demanded Rs 3,000 from the poor adivasi patient.
However, the patient later left the hospital after paying Rs 2,500 to the doctor. But when the matter was revealed and many people decried the action of the doctor, the latter returned the money on December 17 by visiting the victim’s house.
When contacted, Dr Mahanta, who is also the Sub- Divisional Medical Officer, told that he had gone to inquire the matter why Saraswati was making such complaint against him. He alleged that some people were trying to defame him being envious of his practice.
Meanwhile, CDMO Dr Swarup Mishra told that he would inquire the matter after receiving a complaint.