Private hospitals charged injured in cruise accident:Noble Hospital faces action; Jabalpur Hospital let off, licence revoked; reply sought in 7 days

The administration has canceled the license of Noble Hospital for one month, which charged money from a Nepali family injured in the Bargi Dam cruise accident after treatment, while no action has been taken against the other Jabalpur Hospital. After the incident on Thursday, the injured somehow reached Noble Multispecialist Hospital and Jabalpur Hospital located at Gaur Tiraha, where the injured were given primary treatment and then the victims were handed bills. After the complaint came to light, the administration has started an investigation. The Divisional Commissioner had instructed the CMHO to take immediate action. On Monday night, the health department suspended the license of Noble Multispecialist Hospital for one month. However, along with treatment, orders have been given to investigate the entire matter. The CMHO has instructed the hospital management to provide proper treatment to current patients and discharge them, but no new patients will be admitted for the next one month. He clearly stated that any kind of negligence or extortion during a disaster will not be tolerated. The investigation found that charging fees from patients injured in the accident is against the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. A show-cause notice has been issued to the hospital management, seeking a reply within 7 days. It was Nepali currency, yet no relief was given A Nepali family injured in the cruise accident had stated that they somehow reached the hospital after saving their lives. The staff provided first aid there, but immediately handed over a bill of 4500 rupees. The victims repeatedly explained that their money was soaked in water and they did not have Indian currency, yet the hospital management did not listen to them. Victim woman Savita Verma told the hospital that she only had Nepali currency, and her mobile phone was also out of order. Despite this, the hospital staff insisted on payment. Finally, she got relief only after contacting a relative living in Banaras and depositing 4500 rupees. Savita told Dainik Bhaskar that the hospital staff first demanded 2200, then 3000, and finally 4500 rupees. The hospital management clearly stated that the patient would not be discharged without full payment. This created an atmosphere of fear in the family. Jabalpur Hospital also took money Rahul Anand says, after somehow surviving the accident on Thursday evening, he immediately took his son to Jabalpur Hospital located at Russel Chowk for treatment, where he was treated. Three days later, it was found that Preeti Baghel, whom we knew, reached the hospital as soon as she got the information, and about 1800 rupees were taken from her for my treatment. At Jabalpur Hospital, stitches were applied to the hand and bandaged, some medicine was given, for which 1500, 320, and 20 rupees were charged. Rahul Anand said that his son was also treated at Jabalpur Hospital. However, the hospital charged for his treatment. Noble Hospital Director Returned Money Karan Verma, a relative of the woman who came from Nepal, had given 4700 rupees to Noble Hospital, which the hospital director, Dr Satish Patel, returned the next day. He also sent an apology letter, which stated: “Dear Karan, I am Dr. Satish Patel, Director of Noble Hospital, Jabalpur. Your relatives and other people were involved in the accident that occurred at Bargi Dam, Jabalpur. Money was taken due to a mistake by my staff. I had absolutely no knowledge of this. The 4700 rupees taken from you for treatment is highly reprehensible, and for this, I apologise to all of you on behalf of my hospital and staff. The money I have returned to you is because it is absolutely not our intention to profit from this natural disaster. Please forgive us so that we may also receive the merit of humanitarian service in this natural disaster.” No life jackets on the cruise, the driver fled The victims made serious allegations regarding the accident. They said that about 40 people were on board the cruise, but no one was wearing a life jacket. When the cruise started to capsize, they were asked to wear jackets. It is alleged that the driver was the first to flee the scene with his companions.