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Mamata Banerjee, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Three days after a man accused of sexual assault, who had sustained injuries after an escape bid from a police van, died on being denied admission at four government hospitals, another patient lost his life at Lok Nayak Hospital after his family was told that there was no facility to conduct the upper GI endoscopy test that they were seeking.
The incidents have brought the issue of lack of key facilities in government hospitals under the scanner.
While the hospital director said the 46-year-old patient was brought in a very critical condition, the Delhi government said only one of its hospitals has a gastroenterology department and that there was an overall shortage of doctors.
According to the patient’s brother, he died in the hospital’s lift. He said his brother was suffering from chronic liver disease and was first admitted to GTB Hospital for six days. On January 5, he said, doctors asked him to take his brother to GB Pant or Lok Nayak Hospital for the upper GI (gastrointestinal) endoscopy test. “We reached GB pant where we were told the testing facility is not available in the emergency department and that he can visit Lok Nayak,” said the brother.
The family then rushed him to Lok Nayak hospital where, the brother said, his condition deteriorated. He alleged that doctors did not admit him or provide him care, citing that UGI endoscopy facility is not available on the premises.
The medical report of the deceased at Lok Nayak hospital, accessed by The Indian Express, read: “Patient’s attendants have (been) explained the prognosis and non-availability of UGI endoscopy facility in LNJP… Patient referred to Safdarjung/RML…”
According to a senior doctor at Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), an emergency endoscopy is needed for any patient with GI bleeding.
According to Lok Nayak Medical Director Dr Suresh Kumar, the patient’s only option was a liver transplant, which was not possible at this stage. “Prognosis was explained to the family but he later passed away…,” said Dr Kumar.
Officials from GTB Hospital said they have been sending patients to other hospitals for an endoscopy.
On Monday, the Delhi High Court had expressed its displeasure over the lack of medical infrastructure in the national capital to treat patients requiring critical care.
Responding to queries by The Indian Express on lack of facilities and care in the present case, the Delhi government said among its hospitals, only GB Pant has a gastroenterology department.
“Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital was envisaged to have a gastroenterology department. However, presently all posts of gastroenterologists are lying vacant. Since filling up vacant posts of doctors comes under the ambit of the Services Department, which reports directly to the Hon’ble L-G, hence, they should expedite the recruitment of doctors through UPSC. During the interim period, ad hoc arrangements may be made in public interest so that patient care are not compromised and lives or not lost due to non-availability of doctors in hospitals,” the government said.Indian express news, current affairs
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