Corruption plagues govt area hospital

Bhimavaram: Though Bhimavaram Area Hospital is run by government with free medical treatment, the hospital turned notorious for corruption.

Every treatment has its own price tag here, especially for delivery of pregnant women. A price of Rs 3,500 is being charged for delivery here. By the time the lactating mothers and their infants leave the hospital, the corrupt staff in the hospital would have charged at least Rs 5,000 towards bribe.

The delivery procedure and responsibility of dropping mother and child at their residence is free of charge as per government guidelines.

However, the black sheep in the hospital are tarnishing the image of the government.

When contacted, the hospital Superintendent Veeraswamy confessed that though the hospital staff never force for bribe, the relatives of the lactating mothers would offer some money out of happiness.

Surprisingly, notice boards on the hospital premises at different places appeal patients not to pay bribes, the hospital authorities miserably failed to control corruption.

Some patients in the hospital told ‘The Hans India’ that the hospital staff is habituated to accept bribes from them. Even the nurses and other lower level staff also charge Rs 100 each for inoma, cleaning and other services which are officially free.

Patients from Gummampadu, Dumpagadapa, Pallipalem, Kumudavalli, Korukollu, Gollavanitippa and other places informed this correspondent that no service in the area hospital was free.

Only corruption plays a key role here and even the poor were not spared, they alleged.