Palakkad:The recent report of vigilance inquiry conducted into the alleged corruption, maladministration and medical negligence by officials and doctors at district hospital here has shed light on several shocking anomalies in the functioning of the hospital.
Youth Congress leader Boban Mattumantha had approached the VACB in February last year and the vigilance sleuths from the regional unit in Ernakulam, led by officer R. Vivek Kumar, conducted the inquiry.
Though the report has several findings pointing to possible corruption in the hospital administration, it is silent over several shocking cases of alleged apathy including delayed emergency care to three kids who were rushed to the hospital in 2013 and 2014 after snake bites. All the three kids died. Also, there is no mention of a complaint regarding an aged man receiving anti-rabies injection when he sought treatment for vomiting in 2013.
As per the report, there is clear possibility of corruption in the temporary appointment of palliative care helper A. Unni Kannan who lacks proper qualification. Hospital officials gave him 3-month leave making way for him to attend a course to get required qualification.
The purchase of orthopedic implant in 2016 and the fact that there is no local purchase committee in place at the hospital also points to possible corruption, says the report.
However, the report remains mum on nine deaths in 2018 allegedly due to medical negligence.
