Restricting journalists done for smooth management: Hospital

The order restricting the entry of journalists in S C B Medical College and Hospital campus here was issed as a "remedial" measure for smooth management of the hospital and to provide better patient care and not for curtailing the freedom of the Press.
In response to a High Court notice pertaining to a PIL in this matter, in-charge superintendent of the Hospital Pratap Kumar Rath in an affidavit admitted that an order was issued by the then Superintendent restricting the entry of journalists into the campus on June 28 last year.
"Observing the unpleasant situation due to friction among the PG students of this hospital and media personnel that caused disruption in patient care, the remedial measure was taken," Rath said in an affidavit filed yesterday.

Justifying the restriction, the affidavit mentioned about substantial improvements in patient care system at the hospital since the order was issued.
Rath in his affidavit stated that schemes like Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF) and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) were in force and poor patients were availing these facilities.
The affidavit further claimed that between August 2012 and September 2013, the Hospital spent over Rs 11.10 crore on poor patients under OSTF claim.
Following a protest by journalists last year, advocate Nishikant Mishra representing Nationalist Lawyers' Forum and India Media Centre had filed the PIL urging the High Court to quash the restrictions imposed on the journalists by the hospital.

Admitting the PIL, the HC last year had issued a notice to the hospital asking it to reply within two weeks stating what measures have been taken by it to disseminate news originating from the hospital.