Negligence by govt hospitals claims teen Rakshanda’s life

NT NETWORK
MAPUSA
Sheikh family of Mapusa was left in tears after their teenage daughter, diagnosed with malaria, died on Saturday due to negligence and refusal of treatment at government hospitals inspite of the authorities knowing about the seriousness of the patient’s case.
The poor family was made to rush from one government hospital to another for treatment of their daughter, who was finally admitted at a private hospital in Mapusa where, however, she died on Saturday evening.
Rakshanda and her teenage brother Rashid were rushed by their father Iqbal to the North Goa District Hospital on May 17 for treatment of fever. Their blood samples were obtained by the hospital authorities and sent for examination and Iqbal was asked to come back on the next day to collect the reports.
When he went to the hospital to collect the reports on May 18 (Wednesday), he was, however, shocked to find his daughter’s blood test report missing, while his son Rashid had tested negative for malaria. Blood samples of Rakshanda were obtained once again by the hospital authorities and the report handed over to her father by afternoon. As the report indicated that Rakshanda was suffering from malaria, the doctor at the hospital immediately admitted her. However, other than referring her for an X-ray, she was allegedly given no treatment till Thursday afternoon.
Around 12.30 pm on Thursday, the medical superintendent examined the patient’s file and referred her to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) at Bambolim for further treatment. However, without informing Rakshanda’s father about the seriousness of her condition, the hospital authorities shifted the patient to the GMC in an ambulance.
When the patient’s family reached GMC, the doctors there examined her, conducted tests and advised the patient’s father to shift her to a private hospital as her condition was critical and the GMC could not make arrangements for a ventilator.
Troubled, Rakshanda’s family rushed her back to Mapusa and admitted her in a private hospital where she was later administered treatment. However, as her condition had turned critical, she was unable to respond properly to the treatment and died on Saturday evening.
Upset with the authorities, father of the deceased expressed anger over the negligence on the part of the district hospital authorities and the lack of facilities at the GMC.
When contacted, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, who also holds the Health portfolio, said, “I need to check, as nowadays normally people do not die of malaria. I have to look into the details.” He further said that he would order an inquiry, as the district hospital authorities should have not referred the patient to the GMC but instead advised the family to take the patient to a private hospital, as the GMC has a restricted number of ventilators. He said that the district hospital authorities should have been aware of this.