Punjab: Private maternity hospital under scanner over allegations of illegal abortions

Pathankot: A complaint has emerged against a private maternity hospital based at Narot Jaimal Singh in Pathankot over allegations of illegal operations and abortions being conducted there, following which a three-member committee was formed to investigate the matter.  

The hospital came under the scanner of the health department after receiving complaints related to the illegal functioning of the hospital, following which the Pathankot Deputy Commissioner (DC) Harbir Singh forwarded the complaint to the civil surgeon Kaur, directing her to investigate the matter. 

Also Read:Punjab: 6 Medical Officers, 4 paramedics found absent from duty at Community Health Centre

Dr Kaur asked the Narot Jaimal Singh Government Hospital SMO Dr Ravi Kant to look into the issue, after which Dr Kant formed a three-member committee and headed the probe. The committee reportedly visited the private hospital last week and found some anomalies. 

Speaking to Tribune India, a committee member said, "There was no doctor when we reached there. Certain records, which have to be mandatorily maintained, were not shown to us. We also asked for some technical details which again they could not provide. Just one person was present and he, too, fled when we insisted on the records." Dr Kaur said that they are waiting for more information before forwarding the report to the DC. 

However, the allegation that the hospital staff were working with the ASHA workers was refuted by an official. He said that the hospital had hired some women on its rolls to scout for pregnant women in rural areas who were then paid accordingly. 

Previously, the people in the area had allegedly asked the authorities to investigate the functioning of the hospital. According to insiders, this action would serve as a warning to unauthorised hospitals, which would force them to "get their act together or face the music." 

Also Read:Mohali civil surgeon inspects primary health centre, asks doctors to prescribe generic medicines