Three Inpui Naga organizations in Manipur have demanded strict action against doctors and medical staff responsible for the death of a 20-year-old pregnant woman.
A pregnant woman in Manipur’s Noney district reportedly died on Thursday following denial of treatment at five hospitals, including two government-run institutes.
The Inpui Naga Union (INU), Inpui Naga Women’s Union (INWU) and All Inpui Students’ Union (AISU) have slammed the government and the respective hospitals for the incident.
Taking a dig at the government, they have demanded a speedy probe into the incident and action against the medical staff and doctors responsible for the incident.
The woman, identified as Kanpatliu Kamei, wife of Roshan Balang (25) of Puichi village under Noney district, died at the gate of a private hospital in Imphal around 4 am, said her family members.
Her family members said that Kanpatliu was rushed to Senapati district hospital for the delivery at around 2 pm on Wednesday, but the hospital authorities referred her to a different hospital in Imphal around 10.30 pm.
She was subsequently taken to JNIMS in Imphal around 12.30 am but she was allegedly denied medical services there.
They later went to RIMS, another government hospital in Imphal West district, followed by three more private hospitals.
But, the hospitals kept denying them medical services citing unavailability of doctors even though the patient possessed Covid-19 negative test results, the family members alleged.
According to family members, the pregnant woman died at the entrance of the building of the last private hospital, where she was taken.
The Manipur government has ordered an enquiry into the incident on Thursday. A two-member probe panel led by Additional Director (Plg) Medical Directorate will conduct the inquiry and submit their report within a week.
In another development, based on the report that many health care facilities are denying service to patients due to Covid-19 pandemic, Principal Secretary (Health & Family welfare) also issued an order on Thursday directing all government and private hospitals to ensure that all patients who reach their facility are attended to promptly, especially the emergency and time-bound cases.
Chief minister N Biren Singh in a Facebook post on Thursday said, “All government and private hospitals should attend to all patients. Any violation will be viewed very severely and action will be taken under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Manipur Nursing Home & Clinical Registration Act, 1992 etc.”