Hours after a pregnant woman lost her life and her unborn child after hospitals in Imphal allegedly refused admission, a five-day-old infant son of a daily wager died after doctors at Churachandpur district hospital allegedly denied admission.
The incident happened between 6 to 7 pm on Thursday at the casualty department of the hospital.
Last Sunday, one Ngainunfel delivered a baby boy who later developed a complication due to which they could not breastfeed the baby. They consulted a private doctor who referred the baby to the Churachandpur district hospital, advising that the infant will need to be administered oxygen.
On reaching the hospital, at the casualty department, the doctor on duty allegedly did not bother to check the baby. However, a nurse took the temperature of the baby and the doctor on duty randomly prescribed medicine and allegedly sent them home. Instead of admitting the sick infant as per the advice of the private doctor or even bothering to properly check the patient, the doctor on duty reportedly inquired about their travel history for COVID-19 instead.
The family then returned back from the hospital but on reaching home, the child’s condition became worse and he succumbed to his illness around 8:30 pm late Thirsday.
The mother of the deceased infant lamented that her son had no deformity and a proper and prompt medical attention could have saved their first born child. They were told by the doctor on duty to bring their son back to the hospital the next day when OPD reopens, for which the health of the sick child cannot wait, she said.
The father of the infant child, Lamlompiak has submitted a complaint to the medical superintendent of the District Hospital, CMO and DC of Churachandpur against the nurse and doctor on duty at the casualty on the night of August 6.
Meanwhile, irate Village Authority representatives and members of YPA unit of Dorcas Veng, New Lamka, tried to storm Churachandpur District Hospital late in the afternoon. They were stopped by a large number of police personnel present there.
The medical superintendent of Churachandpur district said that they will start an investigation into the incident and assured that a report will be submitted within three days.
Responding to the situation, the deputy commissioner of Churachandpur constituted a three member committee headed by SDO Churachandpur to investigate the case. The committee will submit their report by August 17.
However, Churachandpur residents have expressed their unhappiness on the extended deadline given for submitting the report. They have demanded answers to why the hospital authorities remained silent on the matter so far.
The death of the infant occurred on the same day a pregnant woman from Noney district died after she was allegedly denied admission by five hospitals in Imphal. Reacting to the incident, the state health department constituted an enquiry committee to probe to ascertain the facts leading to the death of the pregnant lady.
In the wake of the incident, Manipur health department on Friday has issued a 24x7 toll free helpline number (1800-103-2015) to ensure that there is no denial of service. In addition, the department also set up a team to follow-up with hospitals in Imphal area during night hours (7pm to 6 am).
