Action being taken against Bhaktapur International Hospital after death of two COVID-infected patients

BHAKTAPUR: The District Administration Office Bhaktapur has decided to take action against Bhaktapur International Hospital at Thimi-3, Kaushaltar after two people died of COVID-19 infection due to serious negligence of the hospital.

Bhaktapur Assistant Chief District Officer Mukesh Kumar Keshari said that an explanation would be demanded to the hospital on Sunday and action would be taken accordingly. He said that action could not be taken during the discussion between the victim side and the hospital management on Friday. “We discussed the incident at the hospital today between the victim and the hospital management. On Sunday, we will take action, including asking the hospital for an explanation,” he said.

The 15-bed hospital admitted more than double its capacity and failed to provide oxygen in time, killing two COVID infected at the hospital on Thursday night. The deceased were a 45-year-old male from Kamalbinayak of Bhaktapur and a 60-year-old male from Pokhara. The male from Kamalbinayak died at the same hospital and the male from Pokhara died on the way to Alka Hospital in Lalitpur.

According to sources, 28 COVID-infected people were admitted to the hospital on Thursday evening. The hospital had pressurized families of the infected to take the patient to other hospitals after an infected person died due to lack of oxygen in the hospital during the day and death of an infected due to lack of oxygen at night. 

After the death of the patient due to extreme negligence of the hospital, the families of the victim chanted slogans at the hospital that night, after which a clash arose. It is alleged that the hospital released 14 patients and left them stranded, without referral documents, asking the families to take the infected patients wherever possible. The victim’s family reached the District Administration Office on Friday demanding proper compensation and action from the hospital, saying that the patient had died due to extreme negligence of the hospital. 

The hospital pressurized 14 patients’ families to take them elsewhere on Thursday night. Accordingly, four were taken to Bhaktapur Hospital and two to Summit Hospital. 

Thus, the hospital is going to compensate the families of the two infected who died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. According to Assistant Chief District Officer Keshari, it was agreed to compensate the victim’s family during a meeting between the victim and the hospital management at the District Administration Office on Friday. He said further discussions would be held on what kind of compensation would be given. “In today’s discussion, it has been agreed to compensate the victims. It was agreed to hold further discussions on Sunday to decide on the kind of compensation,” he said. 

Similarly, the hospital admitted the shortcomings in the management of the hospital and made a commitment to improving the situation in the coming days, said the Assistant Chief District Officer.