Cuttack, March 23: Orissa High Court has fixed a 17-day deadline for the state government to inform it about the steps they have taken to improve the patient-care infrastructure at SCB Medical College and Hospital.

The government was supposed to act on the suggestions made by the collector and district magistrate of Cuttack in his inquiry report on the death of an Italian tourist at SCB.

The court fixed the deadline while hearing a public interest litigation. Sevak, a voluntary organisation based in Jajpur’s Chhatia, filed the PIL alleging that negligence in medical care and treatment had led to the death of the Italian tourist.

Sebastian Rosario Contiguglia, a 63-year-old Italian, died at SCB on December 14 last year after being treated there for over a fortnight. The revenue divisional commissioner (central) had ordered an administrative inquiry following allegations that the foreigner died because of lack of proper care and treatment. The inquiry report was submitted to the government on January 11.

On January 29, the Odisha government had submitted the inquiry report in the court. It had also filed two affidavits on March 14 following orders of the court.

When the case came up for hearing yesterday, the petitioner counsel pointed out in a rejoinder that the Odisha government had not informed the court the steps they had taken following the suggestions made in the inquiry report.

“Taking note of it, the bench of Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Raghubir Dash posted the case for hearing on April 8 and asked the government to submit an affidavit by then stating in detail what actions had been taken on the recommendations made by the collector and district magistrate for treatment of unattended and unidentified patients at SCB,” said petitioner Prabir Kumar Das.

In his inquiry report, collector and district magistrate of Cuttack Girish S.N. said that SCB lacked institutional mechanism to take care of unidentified or unattended patients. The report also said it was high time the hospital started a separate ward to put a curb on patients’ sufferings because of negligence.

Girish stated: “Several unidentified or unattended patients are undergoing treatment in various departments of SCB. Therefore, it is suggested to constitute a separate care-taking ward for such patients. In such a ward, it can be ensured that attendants are deployed and perform their duties round-the-clock.”