Odisha Govt de-empanels fire-scalded Sum Hospital

Odisha government today 'de-empanelled' the Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital from the list of favoured medical facilities which provide free treatment to poor patients in the state.

The government's action came four days after a massive blaze at Sum Hospital claimed 22 lives. "I am directed to say that in the wake of the fire incident in IMS & SUM Hospital on October 17 and disarray in the treatment of patients in your hospital, it has been decided by the government to de-empanel your hospital with immediate effect," Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) P C Mohapatra wrote to the medical superintendent of Sum Hospital.

The DMET in his letter explained that since the 'de-empanelment' is done under exceptional circumstances in the interest of the poor patients of the state, the formality of one month notice as per the MoU has not been adhered to. The Sum Hospital was among the few healthcare facilities in the state where the poor patients got free of cost treatment under the Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF). The state government bears the treatment expenditure of the BPL family members under the OSTF scheme. The government was criticised by Union Health Minister J P Nadda during his visit on Wednesday for empanelling Sum Hospital under the OSTF and other health insurance schemes being provided by the government.

Khurda District Collector Niranjan Sahoo said he had renewed the license of Sum Hospital on the basis of the Chief District Medical Officer's (CDMO) report. Earlier, Sahoo was accused of issuing conditional renewal license to Sum Hospital despite state government's restriction on renewal of license for the hospitals having not met the fire safety norms.–PTI

The government's action came four days after a massive blaze at Sum Hospital claimed 22 lives.