Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 30: A charity hospital run by an NGO, Voluntary Medicare Society, was sealed today and a fine of Rs one lakh was imposed on them for violating the COVID-19 protocol.
District Magistrate Srinagar, Dr Shahid Choudhary, today ordered sealing of the hospital after a report was filed by the Executive Magistrate regarding gross violation of protocol by the administration putting lives of employees and patients at risk.
The DM told Excelsior that based on report of the EM, he has initiated proceedings under Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act. “VMHS premises has been sealed. Final order will be issued after hearing the respondents. This will be followed by prosecution. A fine of Rs 1 lakh has been imposed on them. They may face imprisonment of one year under Section-51”, he said.
He said that many positive cases have been reported from the hospital and they are guilty of not following protocol.
An official said that they sealed the hospital this evening for violating the COVID-19 protocol. He said that the administration of the hospital has risked the lives of dozens of its employees and patients by their criminal negligence in following COVID-19 SOPs.
He said that after investigations it has been found that 12 days ago one of their professionals tested positive for COVID-19. “The hospital administration didn’t bother to inform the concerned authorities to get all the employees tested but continued their operation till yesterday when few more employees tested positive”, he said.
The official said that the employees had earlier requested the administration to get them and also those patients who have been treated by these employees tested but they were forced to keep silent and even were directed to go for testing on their own.
The official said the criminal negligence has not only put all the employees but patients to risk as administration didn’t inform them about testing of one of the staff as positive.
The official said that several employees are symptomatic and they need immediate testing. He said that even fumigation of the buildings has not been done.
He said that contacts of the COVID-19 positive patients will be traced and tested.
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