Congress Protests Alleging Health Department Negligence in Puri
The Puri District Student Congress and Youth Congress today staged a protest in front of the CDMO office in Puri, alleging negligence in patient care by doctors and healthcare workers at the Puri Sadar Sub-Divisional Hospital and highlighting various irregularities at Puri Medical College. During the protest, Youth Congress leader Alok Kumar Dash, District Student Congress President Ashutosh Mishra, and slum leader Manoj Mandal raised several concerns related to the medical facility.
They pointed out that although departmental duty chart boards are displayed in Puri Medical, they are not being properly followed. In emergency situations, contact numbers and duty schedules of doctors should be displayed in each ward. It was alleged that doctors often ask patients to buy essential Niramaya medicines from outside and are reluctant to provide signed prescriptions. The ICU equipment, though available, has reportedly been kept locked in a room, guarded by hospital staff, and has not been made operational. Similarly, a center meant for diabetes and blood pressure testing, located near the hospital help desk, has been shut down and its signage whitewashed.
Another serious allegation was related to the maternity ward, where patients are allegedly charged amounts ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000. It was claimed that patients who do not pay are often neglected during treatment.
In this context, a five-point demand letter was submitted, and it was conveyed that a more detailed memorandum would be resubmitted on the 7th. The CDMO assured the protesters that the demands would be taken seriously and necessary actions would be initiated.
Prominent participants in the protest included Youth Congress leader Alok Kumar Dash, District Student Congress President Ashutosh Mishra, slum youth leader Manoj Mandal, Puri Assembly Student Congress President Agustin Joseph, youth leader Anil Behera, Sadar youth leader Aditya Samantray, Jagadish Raut, Hifjul, Stephen Joseph, Amit Pradhan, and many other workers from the Youth and Student Congress.
