No ambulance for dead, says hospital

Tuesday , July 11 , 2017 https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170711/jsp/frontpage/story_161185.jsp  No ambulance for dead, says hospital - CM suspends two govt doctors in Chatra

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Rajendra Oraon’s brother and sister-in-law with his body on Sunday after Chatra Sadar Hospital refused to provide them an ambulance. Telegraph picture Ranchi, July 10: Family members of a farmer who died of snakebite were forced to carry his body with their bare hands after authorities at Chatra Sadar Hospital refused them an ambulance, the incident last morning sparking an outrage on social media and jolting the government into action. Chief minister Raghubar Das today suspended the hospital's deputy superintendent Dr Krishna Kumar and manager Dr Nishant Kumar for disrespecting the dead and dereliction of duty. Rajendra Oraon (35), a farmer and resident of a remote village in Tandwa block, 50km from Chatra district headquarters, was bitten by a poisonous snake on Saturday. But, family members first took him to a local quack, sources said. Oraon was brought to the government hospital, 165km from Ranchi, only on Sunday morning, when it was already too late. He passed away within minutes of doctors attending to him. Oraon's bereaved brother and sister-in-law requested the hospital authorities for an ambulance to take the body home. But when the hospital refused, they decided to walk home. The duo had covered around half a kilometre on foot when Chatra deputy commissioner Sandeep Singh came to know of the inhuman treatment meted out to them. He immediately directed the local police station to arrange for an ambulance. However, pictures and videos of the couple carrying the corpse quickly went viral on WhatsApp, and prompted chief minister Das to act. A vernacular daily also published a report this morning. "Apart from suspending the two doctors, the CM has sought a report on the incident from the health department within 24 hours. There are complaints that medicines and doctors are often unavailable at the Chatra hospital. The department has been asked to furnish a report on such inadequacies as well," an official at the chief minister's secretariat said. Chatra deputy commissioner Singh said an inquiry would be conducted against the hospital management and appropriate action would be taken. "There is no doubt that this is a case of negligence and inhuman behaviour by the hospital authorities," he said. Chatra is plagued by poor medical infrastructure at a time the BJP-led government is pledging an imminent healthcare revolution in the state. "It is true that the sadar hospital has only one ambulance and we have requested the health department for more; but, that can't be an excuse to deny service to the dead. There is provision of hiring private ambulances if necessary. The suspended doctors will have to explain the circumstances under which they refused to help the poor family," Singh said. The district administration has further directed Tandwa block officials to provide Oraon's family financial assistance for his last rites.