Mamata likely to meet top Apollo officials on Tuesday

Preetha Reddy, the Vice-Chairperson of the Apollo Hospitals group along with a few senior officials is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna on Tuesday.

It may be mentioned that this will be the first time that a top official of a private hospital group will hold a meeting with the Chief Minister after Apollo Gleneagles Hospital was caught in controversies over a series of incidents of medical negligence. It was learnt that the Chief Minister's appointment was sought by the private hospital group a few days ago and Banerjee had given her time to the top official on Tuesday.

Some, however, believe that the decision was taken to meet the administrative head of the state after the police grilled some of the top officials of the hospital including its former CEO Rupali Basu, present CEO Rana Dasgupta and Chief Operating Officer Joy Basu.

It may be mentioned here that two parallel investigations were being carried out by the state Health department and the police. The investigating team constituted by the health department has already found serious lapses on the hospital's part in connection with Sanjay Ray's treatment who died of alleged medical negligence. On the basis of the investigation, the health department has already submitted an interim report to the Chief Minister.

On the other hand, the police have already interrogated the doctors, hospital staff members and a senior official of the billing department.

In the latest development, a team from the cyber crime branch of the city police are examining a software of the hospital to determine if there was any involvement of the senior officials. The police are examining the mails that were sent through it.

Meanwhile, senior health officials on Saturday held a meeting with the senior officials of the state-run hospitals to take stock of the steps taken by them to bring to the forefront the incidents of medical negligence. The hospital officials were also asked to repair the CCTVs that were defunct.