Covid-19 treatment: Odisha CM warns private hospitals of due action for overcharging

Bhubaneswar, Mar 11: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked concerned officials to keep a close watch on private hospitals treating Covid patients. The CM while reviewing the Covid situation asked the officials to ensure that private hospitals must charge within the ceiling fixed by government and stringent action will be taken against the hospital management in case of any lapses. He further said that vaccination will be the main strategy to control the pandemic in future and bring back normalcy in the State. “Vaccination program will be a top priority and fool proof arrangements should be made. Take care of elderly, women and other vulnerable sections in the vaccination drive. We are trying our best to mobilse adequate vaccines at the earliest possible time,” he said. Patnaik also said that Odisha’s successful model of disaster management is based on community involvement and that is the sustainable way to face a pandemic as well. “Our Government is one of the very few Governments that is providing testing to treatment, food, accommodation, medicines everything free of cost to the people. This has helped people cutting across economic strata esp the poor to fearlessly avail treatment in the best facilities. It’s a huge resource allocation for the government and I would like each one of you to ensure quality in services to the people. We have been taking feedback of patients under Mo Sarkar and will continue to do so,” he added.