Balurghat, March 31: A BPL card holder has complained to the South Dinajpur chief medical officer of health that she was turned away by the Balurghat district hospital 20 times for a gall bladder operation.

China Majumder had been referred to Dr Amitabha Bhattacharya, a surgeon, by the hospital’s outpatients’ department (OPD) on April 29 last year. Since then, the 45-year-old had made 20 trips to the hospital and each time the date for surgery had been postponed.

Bibhuti Bhusan Mahapatra, the CMOH, said he has ordered the hospital superintendent to probe the charges and assign a date for the surgery to the woman at the earliest.

China’s husband Shyamal is a day labourer and the Majumdars had hoped that the card identifying them as belonging to the below poverty level category would see them through the hospital expenses.

“But we were wrong. Every time we came to the hospital, we spent Rs 15 on the journey alone. My husband lost his day’s wage each time he accompanied me,” said China.

The couple live in Atair village, 15km from here. The 45-year-old woman was hospitalised the same day the OPD referred her to the surgeon, but was released on May 1 and told to come back later.

“When I arrived on the date given, I was sent back again with another date. The doctor made me come 20 times. Every time I visited the hospital, the operation was delayed on one pretext or the other. I was not even told the reason why it was being delayed,” China said. Her husband earns Rs 60-70 per day

On March 27 this year, China reported to the hospital for the 20th time. This time, she was told that Dr Bhattacharya was on leave. She was told to come back later and find out when he would be back. Instead of preparing for another journey to the hospital, China visited the CMOH with the complaint.

“I had got the letter written by someone else since I am illiterate,” said China. She, however, refused to disclose the person’s name.

Mahapatra, who got the complaint on March 27, said he was shocked. “I have asked the hospital superintendent to inquire into it and give her the earliest possible date for the operation. Disciplinary action will definitely be taken against those found guilty,” Mahapatra said.

Hospital superintendent Adhip Ghosh confirmed that China had been admitted under Dr Bhattacharya. “I have got the CMOH’s order and have sent a message to the patient to see me at the earliest. She will be given an early date for the operation. I will also find out who were responsible for her plight,” Ghosh said.

Dr Bhattacharya was unavailable for comment as he is on leave.

A doctor of medicine at the hospital on condition of anonymity said it was risky to delay a gall bladder operation so long.

“If the stones are not removed, an obstruction is created and the patient starts suffering from jaundice. The operation cannot be done till the jaundice is cured. During the period a lot of complications may arise and cancer, too, cannot be ruled out in the long run,” said the doctor

The CMOH, however, said there had been no other complaints against the surgeon.