A government hospital in Bihar has been accused of attaching a cold drink bottle instead of a urine bag to an elderly patient after catheterisation.

The incident is alleged to have taken place at Jamui Sadar Hospital after Government Rail Police (GRP) personnel at Jhajha brought in the 60-year-old man lying
injured and unconscious along the tracks on Monday night.

A doctor examined the man and instructed the assistant to put him on oxygen support, administer medicines and attach a urine bag after catheterisation. However, the staff member allegedly attached a 2.25-litre cold drink bottle instead of a urine bag.

“The stock of plastic urine bags at our hospital had got over but using a cold drink bottle in its place is completely unacceptable. This is a serious issue and we have ordered a probe into it. Action will be taken against the staff who did this. We have warned our employees to ensure that such a thing never happens again,” Jamui Sadar Hospital manager Ramesh Kumar Pandey told reporters.

Pandey said the hospital drugstore in-charge had
fractured a leg and was on leave.

“The drug store in-charge did not inform us of the shortage of urine bags before going on leave. We immediately provided a urine bag to the patient after coming to know about the incident. We are ensuring an adequate supply of medicines and equipment,” Pandey added.

Jamui civil surgeon Kumar Mahendra Pratap told The Telegraph that he had showcased the hospital officials.

“It has given a very bad name to Bihar. We have sent show-cause notices to the hospital deputy superintendent and the manager. Strict action will be taken,” Pratap said.