TUTH to set up ‘Itani Memorial Ward’ in memory of its Account Officer

Published On: November 5, 2020 07:38 PM NPT By: Bal Krishna Adhikari

Account Officer Itani died after he failed to get an ICU bed at the same hospital

KATHMANDU, Nov 5: Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Maharajgunj, has announced to form a probe committee to investigate the death of Rajaram Itani, an account officer in the hospital. Itani breathed his last after he did not receive an ICU ward for treatment at the same hospital.

Handing over a three-point commitment letter to Itani’s family on Thursday, the hospital administration vowed to bring the those responsible behind the incident to book at the earliest. In the letter signed by the Executive Director Dinesh Kafle, the TUTH committed to making necessary arrangements for the treatment of the medics and its staff and their family members under any circumstances.

The hospital also said that it will set up a separate ward after the name of deceased Account Officer Itani, who worked at the hospital for 25 years. Itani’s brother Bimal shared that the hospital administration agreed to set up the Itani Memorial Ward in memory and honor of his brother.

A statue of Itani will also be installed at the ward, according to the agreement reached between his family and the hospital administration.

The last rites of late Itani were performed at Aryaghat Cremation Center on Thursday afternoon after the agreement.

Itani,54, breathed his last on Tuesday morning after he failed to get an ICU bed at the same hospital. He was rushed to TUTH on Monday night after he experienced some breathing difficulties.

Keeping in view of his deteriorating health condition, doctors on duty had immediately referred him for the treatment with ventilator support and at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as his oxygen level had gone below 45.

Itani’s family members had waited for more than eight hours seeking an ICU bed in the hospital. Itani was then taken to Karuna Hospital where he breathed his last on Tuesday morning.

Director of TUTH Dinesh Kafle had cited the communication gap as a reason behind the death of Itani. “We are in a difficult time. Communication gap between doctors on duty caused the incident.”