Female ACTO death case: Hyderabad DHMO orders probe against Yashoda Hospital

Hyderabad: Trouble is mounting for Yashoda Hospital, Malakpet, after the District Medical and Health Officer (DHMO) of Hyderabad ordered a probe into the allegations of charging Rs 29 lakh from the family of Assistant Commercial Tax Officer (ACTO) for COVID treatment and keeping them in the dark about her death.

M Swetha Reddy, Assistant Commercial Tax Officer (ACTO) of Mehdipatnam Circle II was admitted to the hospital for delivery on August 4. However, she was tested positive for COVID 19. During the treatment, her family paid Rs 29 lakh to the hospital but never were allowed to see or talk to her.

Her husband Madhava Reddy said they were only informed that she was responding to the treatment and there is nothing to worry about.

However, when Reddy persisted to visit his wife in the ICU, he was allowed to see her on September 4. He raised alarm when he found Shwetha motionless. He demanded copies of all reports and diagnoses so that he could seek the second opinion from another hospital.

Finding itself in a dock, the hospital declared her dead in a hush-hush manner.

A video of Madhava Reddy detailing how the hospital treated his wife and fleeced him has now gone viral.

Waking up to the allegations, the District Medical and Health Officer of Hyderabad, constituted a committee to look into the allegations.

DHMO was acting on a complaint filed by Mujahed Mohiuddin Khudri, who runs an NGO, demanding a probe into the incident.

The two-member committee includes Dr. P Jayamalini, SPHO at UHHC, Malakpet and Dr. P Veena, Medical Officer, UPHC Shalivahana Nagar, Hyderabad. The committee has been asked to submit the report within three days.

“Hence the inquiry officers are requested to conduct a probe into the complaint against M/s Yashoda Hospital, Malakpet, Hyderabad, and submit a detailed report and opinion along with the case sheet, Bills (Day wise, Component Bills) Doctor notes, and other related documents within three days to this office for further action.” the order reads.