Even as we come to terms with death of over 60 infants at Gorakhpur’s BRD Hospital due to alleged disruption in oxygen supply over nonpayment of dues, new details are emerging which point towards a serious case of gross neglect by the hospital authorities. Gaon Connection, a rural media platform, reveals that despite available funds in the bank, the medical college did not divert the funds to make payment for oxygen supply which led to the tragedy.
According to Gaon Connection, had principal Dr. Rajiv Misra of BRD Medical College diverted the available funds for payment of oxygen supply, the deaths could have been avoided. The report says the college had funds of Rs. 1.25 crore for other uses, which, if the principal wanted, could have been used to make payment to the agency which supplied oxygen to the hospital, and perhaps the lives of children could have been saved.
The report further states that till now, Rs. 3.78 crore have been allocated to BRD Medical College, of which Rs. 2.5 crore have been utilised. “When the principal knows oxygen is the lifeline, why wasn’t the payment made?” asked K K Gupta, director general medical education (DGME). He further states that it is not necessary to take permission in case of essentials like oxygen, as the government has given standing instructions regarding the same.
The report also quotes a hospital employee who, on condition of anonymity, said that in all this, the principle (Dr. Rajiv Misra) and the head of encephalitis (Dr. Kafeel Khan) are responsible. He added that when CM Yogi Adityanath visited the hospital on 9th August, they did said everything is working properly and did not talk about the crisis on hand.
He even insisted that the government investigates these two men in depth. It is believed that the two men worked in connivance and the tales of Dr. Khan’s heroics are incorrect.
A magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident. Further details are awaited…
