Bengal Govt set up six-member committee to probe Apollo Hospitals' alleged negligence

Kolkata: West Bengal's health department announced the setting up of a six-member committee under special secretary Subir Chatterjee to probe against alleged negligence and extortion of Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals in the city.

This development happned barely hours an FIR was filed by the grieving family members after 30-year-old Sanjay Roy, who was admitted into the private hospital, died few hours after being shifted to SSKM Hospital last week.

Meanwhile, Phoolbagan police station inspector Sumon Naskar led an investigation police team into the private hospital near Salt Lake in the city and sought documents related to the admission, mode of payments and released of Sanjoy Roy, who finally breathed his last at SSKM Hospital in the night of February 23.

Widow of Sanjay Roy, Ruby Roy along with her relatives today went in the Apollo Hospitals to deposits dues in cash and sought return of FD certificates, worth several lakh of rupees, which were taken by the hospital as guarantors. Ruby Roy, who filed the FIR with the Phoolbagan police station in the city last night under sections of 304, 384 and 34 including extortion against Apollo Gleneagles Hospital and Dr Shyamal Sarkar for alleged negligence causing death to her husband, said they wanted justice by way of punishment to the medics and management of hospital. " We have come to deposit dues and take back the FD certificates which have been taken by the hospital as guarantors against release of my husband. If the hospital would have been considerate a bit and release my husband on time for treatment at the SSKM hospital instead of insisting of having cash first then he would be survived," a crying Ruby Roy told the reporters at the gate of Apollo Hospitals.

The media people have been barred from entry into the hospital premises. " I want justice against the crime of the hospital which is responsible for death of my husband. I want the medics and hospital must be punished and I do not want any compensation," the grieving widow, mother of 18-month old baby, told reporters. She said despite paying over Rs 7 lakh for treatment of my husband, the hospital instead of healing him went on claiming money almost every day.

" When we arranged and got a sit for admission at the SSKM Hospital, Apollo Hospitals wanted every penny was settled and this delayed for more than five hours for shifting and ultimately my husband succumbed last week." Ruby Roy said. Meanwhile, a report said some officials of the private hospital yesterday had gone to Dankuni to meet the wife for paying compensation. The hospital has agreed to return the money (about Rs 7.4 lakh) to the bereaved family. " We do not want any return of the funds.

We want only justice and punishment for the negligence so that no other people suffer like us," Ruby Roy added. The hospital came under scrutiny by the state health department for alleged negligence and coercing the patient party to deposits FD certificates to meet the dues of medical bills. Sanjoy Roy after suffering injury in a bike accident was admitted to the private hospital. The health department today set up a six-member committee under the special secretary to probe the alleged negligence of Apollo Hospitals, one of the biggest private health facilities with almost 85 per cent occupancy round the year.The other five members are all specialist medics.