Gandhi Hospital to probe into allegations

​Hyderabad: In a heartwrenching incident a bruised patient was denied the luxury of using a wheelchair in the state-run Gandhi Hospital as he was unable to pay bribes. The inhumane acts of the staff forced the sufferer to use his son’s toy tricycle to reach doctors ward. The incident took place on Wednesday.

S Raju, 40, had been visiting the hospital for a follow-up treatment for the burn injuries that he had suffered due to electrical shock last August. His wife Santoshi alleged that ward-boys had been demanding Rs 100 to Rs 200 for providing wheelchair and it was nothing new.

“I paid the demanded amount on several occasions but this time I simply had no money,” she said adding “Earlier my husband underwent treatment at the hospital for almost 100 days and I had to shell out money for injections and bed covers.” The doctors had told her that her husband needs to undergo surgery.

But the hospital authorities, she said, have been postponing it on various pretexts, including the paucity of beds. The plight of the patient suffering from severe mobility making the rounds in hospital on his son’s tricycle went viral. Empathizing with the patient Telangana Minister K T Rama Rao tweeted "My office contacted the family and we will ensure they are helped."

Meanwhile, Gandhi Hospital's superintendent Dr Manjula said, "We have not got any written complaint from the attendants' of the patient. However, on the basis of media reports, we have constituted an enquiry committee to look into the matter. A report is likely to be submitted within a day. Based on the report, the necessary action will be initiated against those responsible for the incident." (with agency inputs)