Poor woman turned away from Kundapur govt. hospital, forced to deliver in private hospital

Mangalore Today News Network

Kundapur, June 6,2017: A pregnant 29 year old humble woman,  was turned away as the  doctor was not available on the night of June 3. Later, the woman was delivered of a baby girl at a private nursing home.

Asha (29) from Hale Alive, Kodi village, who in  advanced stage of pregnancy, developed labour pains and she was taken to the Taluk Government Hospital in Kundapur by her mother, and aunt  in an autorickshaw.

They reached the hospital late on Saturday (June 3) night. Within minutes of getting into the hospital, Asha had to come out.

Amita told presspersons in Kundapur on Monday that nurses at the hospital told her that the gynaecologist, Chandra Markala, was on leave and that the other doctor, Arati Karanth, too, was not available. The nurses also said that Asha might not give birth immediately.

The nurses suggested that the women call 108 Ambulance Service and take Asha to the District Government Hospital in Udupi. She called the 108 Ambulance Service three times. But there was no response, Amita said.

Though the ambulance under the Janani Vahini scheme was on the Taluk Government Hospital premises, the hospital staff did not inform Asha’s relatives about it. Then both Amita and Baby searched for a vehicle to get Asha admitted to another hospital. Since it was past midnight, there were no vehicles around. When they were walking out of the hospital with Asha, they spotted an autorickshaw and requested the driver to take them to a hospital.

The autorickshaw driver requested the passenger sitting in it to get off and then took Asha and her relatives to a nearby private nursing home.  Admitted to the private nursing home at around 1.30 a.m., Asha gave birth to a baby girl in about 10 minutes. Both the mother and baby are safe, Amita said.

Meanwhile, Asha’s relatives registered a complaint against the Taluk Government Hospital with the Santwana Kendra, which has taken up the matter with the Department of Health.

Meanwhile, Udayashankar A., In-charge Administrative Medical Officer of the Taluk Government Hospital, is reported to have said,  that he received the complaint. He had called the doctors, nurses and the complainant for an enquiry.  “If found guilty during enquiry, we will recommend to the District Health and Family Welfare Officer for further action against the erring staff,” he said. “We conduct 160 to 180 deliveries in a month in our hospital. So far, we have not had any complaints,” he added.