Straight Line News Network
Jammu, 6th Aug: A recent case of gross neglect of the Covid Management in Jammu and Kashmir has come to light as 42-year-old lady Sunita Devi from Sunetar, Ramnagar died after being denied admission in GMC Jammu, alleges RTI Activist Balwinder Singh.
She was admitted to American Oncology at Batra Hospital and operated upon but later, detected corona positive along with three other patients from different localities. The rest of the three asymptomatic patients were discharged from the American Oncology Institute for home quarantine as per latest Covid-19 Protocols. But Sunita Devi, whose condition deteriorated day by day was not provided with the required medical facilities like ICU even though Oncology Hospital Authorities contacted Director Health Jammu, CMO Jammu, Superintendent GMC, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Raj Bhawan Jammu etc.
Despite repeated requests for shifting of the patient to GMC, which is the only designated Covid Level 1 hospital in Jammu City and which was recently turned into a referral hospital, there was no response.
“Since she was in dire need of ICU care, her precious life could have been saved if she had been admitted in the hospital,” said Balwinder Singh.
He also said, “The Doctor who was unit Head Oncology Unit of American Oncology Hospital, wrote several mails dated 29th July, 30th July, 3rd August, 4rth August to all above-mentioned Officers but sorry to say, none of them admitted the patient in GMC nor responded to the mails, which finally resulted in the death of the patient on 5th August.”
S Balvinder Singh Social Activist, S. Majit Singh, S Manmohan Singh, Sh Ayaz Ahmad Khan & Sh Mahesh Kotwal along with other civil society members demanded Judicial probe into the whole incident so that responsibility can be fixed since such persons have no right to stay on these responsible posts, especially in the hour of COVID crisis.
This is not the first case of negligence on part of the administration. Two days ago, a pregnant Covid-Positive patient was referred from Rajouri to Jammu and various hospitals refused to admit her. The patient gave birth to a girl inside an ambulance in Sunderbani on way to Govt. Gandhi Nagar Hospital Jammu.
It is pertinent to mention that Govt Hospital Gandhi Nagar Jammu has been the only hospital designated to handle the COVID-19 positive patients at the time of their delivery. This leads to pregnant patients getting referred to Govt Hospital Gandhi Nagar, where sometimes the patient must travel more than 300 kilometres at the time of delivery.
“An enquiry has been ordered in the case and we appreciate that. Responsibility must be fixed but they also need to take a decision not to refer positive Covid pregnant patients especially if they are living in far-flung areas,” Singh said.
Balwinder questioned the administration regarding the role of peripheral District Hospitals and three newly-opened Govt. Medical Colleges at Rajouri, Doda and Kathua when they can’t handle these patients at the time of delivery.
Singh said, “These COVID-19 pregnant patients have to travel the distance of more than 250 kilometres for their delivery which is unacceptable morally and on humanitarian grounds. When Govt. is claiming the adequate supply of PPE kits and Masks in the peripheral hospital to meet any eventuality, why refer them?”
