Lokayukta Police Inspect Public Hospital, Find 23 Expired Saline Bottles
A district Lokayukta police team led by inspectors M B Biradar and N M Khilari conducted an inspection at a town public hospital on Wednesday, following numerous public complaints alleging severe mismanagement, dereliction of duty, and deficiencies in patient care at the facility. The Lokayukta registered a suo motu complaint prior to the operation, during which officers checked medical stocks, verified official records, and inspected multiple clinical and administrative sections.
The inspection was prompted by a series of petitions and complaints submitted by members of the public regarding the public hospital's operations. The allegations outlined persistent issues at the healthcare facility, including inadequate medical infrastructure, prolonged delays, deficiencies in patient care, financial and administrative irregularities, dereliction of official duty, and widespread maladministration.
While examining various sections of the hospital premises, the Lokayukta team conducted a detailed check of the medicines stored in the inpatient treatment room. During this inspection, officers discovered 23 expired saline bottles kept in the room, raising serious concerns regarding patient safety and inventory oversight.
The visiting inspection team expressed deep displeasure over multiple hygiene and operational shortcomings observed across the public hospital. Officers noted foul-smelling toilets, poor overall maintenance within the emergency unit, and inadequate arrangements at the facility's oxygen plant.
Inspectors also found essential sections of the facility rendered inaccessible to patients. Both the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the toilets allocated for malnourished children were found locked during the visit. Furthermore, the team observed improper maintenance throughout the wards, even though sufficient bedsheets were available in store for use.
Hospital officials faced severe reprimands from the Lokayukta officers for failing to operationalise high-value medical equipment. According to the inspection team, expensive machinery purchased at a cost of crores of rupees was not put to public use due to official negligence and a lack of proper maintenance.
During the drive, the Lokayukta team obtained comprehensive details from doctors and staff members regarding the current stock of medicines and the healthcare facilities available at the hospital. Doctors present during the Lokayukta inspection included Dr Revansiddappa and Dr Prashant Tumbagi. Lokayukta police personnel Shankar Balabatti, Gangadhar Khakandaki, and Bhimangowda Patil were also present at the location throughout the inspection process.
