Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy visited Gandhi Hospital on Monday, where he enquired about details of an incident involving a 33-year-old man riding a toy car into the hospital last week. The incident caused major embarrassment for the State’s health administration.
The incident was caught on camera and went viral as it made national headlines. The State was lampooned for failing to stem corruption in hospitals. The man’s wife had claimed she had made her husband sit on their son’s toy car as she could not pay a bribe of ₹100 sought by ward boys to provide the couple a wheelchair.
Second case
Incidentally, the Gandhi Hospital incident is the second case in the State involving a patient’s inability to bribe in the last one month. In the first case, a man died after he allegedly failed to get oxygen after suffering from respiratory distress at the Chest Hospital. The deceased man’s wife also alleged that the ward boys had demanded a bribe of ₹150.
Dr. Reddy met S. Raju, whose actions led to suspension of two ward boys at Gandhi Hospital, and assured quality treatment. Mr. Raju was admitted on Monday for a surgery to his skull. The Minister also inspected the hospital and stated that the government had taken several steps to improve healthcare in public health institutions.
