Puttur, March 25: After the two who had participated in the free health check-up camp organized at Panaje and later underwent heart surgery Omega hospital in Mangaluru have expired, where as one more woman who has undergone surgery is in critical state, people protested at Peraje here on the night of Tuesday, condemning the doctors negligence.
More than a thousand locals protested over the issue, and the police had to resort to mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd.
Ayishath Haseena (9), a fourth standard student on who heart operation was performed, died on March 19th. She was the daughter of Mammunji, Arlapadavu resident.
Poovakka (69), wife of Panaje Boillmbala expired on Tuesday March 24th.
Another patient, Sundari(45), wife of Chania Madiwala, resident of Chembarakatte, who also underwent surgery is in critical state.
People who were raged by these incidents, protested by placing the body of Poovakka in front of the primary health centre at Panaje on Tuesday.
Free health check-up camp for BPL card holders under Vajpayee Arogyashree health scheme was organized on March 10th at Panaje primary health centre. Doctors of Omega hospital from Mangaluru checked health condition of the people, identified 28 among them as being in need of advanced treatment, and took them to Mangaluru.
On March 18th, 13 persons were admitted for surgery. Ayishat Haseena, who underwent surgery on March 19th, expired on the same day at night. Poovakka, died on Tuesday. The public’s protested by placing body of Poovakka, at Primary Health Centre in Panaje.
Another patient, Sundari, who was discharged post surgery on March 23rd, has developed bulge in her arm.
Under the Vajpayee Aarogya Shree project, the government would bear surgical expenses of those who participated in this camp, and for this amount the surgery has been done, alleged the protesters. Protesters also alleged that the concerned hospital for the government’s money is risking the lives of the poor people from remote areas. The locals also demanded detailed investigation in this case and take appropriate actions against the concerned hospital and the doctors.
The district health officer and medical officer of the concerned hospital visited the spot in the evening. Meanwhile, over thousand people were seen protesting by placing the dead body in the front. As soon as the district health officer and medical officer arrived, the villagers in groups, began to question them. As they were unable to give appropriate answers to the queries of protestors, they were assaulted.
When police intervened, there was much exchange of words between the villagers and police. Following this, the police resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse the mob, during which a local named Subba Moolya was injured.
The district health officer said that the remaining patients would be provided treatment under the same scheme through other hospitals.
