Aatif Qayoom
Handwara, June 16 (KNS): Putting the question mark on the healthcare services in Kashmir Valley again, a pregnant woman was allegedly denied treatment at District Hospital Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district and was forced to spend night under open sky.
Reports reaching to Kashmir News Service (KNS) said that a pregnant lady from Kralgund area start bleeding after which her family members took her to DH Handwara during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday but doctors on duty there denied treatment and forced the pregnant lady to spend night under open sky.
“During the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, She started bleeding after which we took her to DH Handwara at 02:00 am but doctors who were on duty that time, denied to treat her and asked for Covid-19 test first.
Though family members managed the Covid-19 report via WhatsApp later on which was negative but medical staff even didn’t touch the lady”, alleged husband of the lady Mohammad Hussain Ganaie.
“From predawn to late morning hours, none of the doctors have bothered to visit me or give treatment to me”, a pregnant lady said in a video clip which is in the possession of KNS.
Another family member said that despite we approached repeatedly doctors about her deteriorating condition, no health official or officer visited till 09:30 am this morning.
He said later on when doctors and other paramedics visited the pregnant lady, she was directed to go outside for USG.
“Despite spending night under open sky, the hospital authority is now directing us to reach Srinagar hospital for treatment”, attendant said.
However the family members of the pregnant lady staged a protest against this apathetic behavior of medical staff of DH Handwara at main chowk Handwara and demanded stringent action against the negligent health officials.
They alleged that doctors told them to shift the pregnant lady at some private clinic and said they are poor and cannot afford the expenses there.
Meanwhile senior citizens of the area questions the tall claims of government for improving and restricting of healthcare services across Kashmir Valley.
They said the little equipped government hospitals forced patients to approach private hospitals for treatment but it is not in the domain of everyone.
Few days back a pregnant lady gave birth a baby in isolation ward at Kupwara as no paramedic was available there to take care of her.
When KNS contacted Director Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) Dr Sameer Matoo, he said I have no information of the incident.
“I have no information about this incident and if found to be correct, stringent action against the involved person would be initiated”. (KNS)