The Kolkata Municipal Corporation on Wednesday removed the lab-technician from duty who had refused to treat a malaria patient.

This after The Indian Express reported that Ashok Bhattacharya, who is suffering from malignant malaria, had to lose vision of one of his eyes because of the delay in getting treatment.

Lab-technician Debashis Biswas has been removed from the ward health unit of Borough V for dereliction of duty.

“After The Indian Express broke the story we conducted an inquiry which proved him guilty. We have ordered to remove Biswas from his duty,” said Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.

“We request the victim to come to the KMC clinic and avail the treatment as soon as possible,” added Bhattacharya.

Ashok Bhattacharya was denied treatment on June 5 by Biswas on the ground that he had come to the KMC clinic after consulting a private doctor.

Happy with the KMC’s action, Ashok said that there are many underprivileged patients who are often refused treatment by the KMC clinics.

“I am happy that the health official was found guilty and removed. The civic body should ensure that this kind of incident should not happen again,” said Ashok.