Kolkata: Accusing media of "misreporting",
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday gave a clean chit to the
health department in connection with the death of a woman
while giving birth to twins after being allegedly denied
admission in state-run hospitals.
Banerjee, who holds the health portfolio, stood by the
state's health secretary and other health department officials
who had claimed that the woman, Usha Devi, "did not at all go
to any state-run hospital and that her body was taken
instead".
The CM told reporters here that "the woman was
taken (to the hospital) only after she died".
Blaming a section of the media for "misreporting", she
said, "On one or two occasions, it is found that the media has
filed unconfirmed reports, which is not proper as they only
misguide people. I suggest that media crosscheck with the
department concerned before reporting such events."
State's Health Secretary, Sanjay Mitra, and other top
health department officials yesterday said that Usha Devi was
not refused admission by any state-run hospital and denied
media reports that she died on the roadside after giving birth
to twin baby boys.
Following the woman's death, Surya Kanta Mishra, CPI-M
central committee member and Opposition leader, had demanded
appointment of a full-time minister to look after the health
portfolio as Banerjee was already burdened with many
responsibilities.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 16, 2012, 21:43