The most terrorist act by a government hospital

In a shocking incident, a 27-year-old woman was delivered of a baby near a drain after she was forced to leave the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem, as she could not pay Rs. 1000 allegedly demanded by an employee in the maternity ward.

Laxmi, her husband, Samuel (30), and two children, Venkatesh (5) and Naveen Gopal (2), who hail from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, had been in the city for the past two years. The couple, working as labourers, used to take shelter on the veranda of Corporation’s Commercial Complex on the Old Bus Stand premises at night.

When Laxmi developed labor pain at around 4 a.m., Samuel with the help of a 55-year-old woman Bannari reached the hospital by foot. Laxmi was allotted a bed in the maternity ward at around 5.30 a.m. An employee allegedly demanded money for the delivery. As the couple did not have money, they were forced to leave the hospital. With the help of Bannari, Laxmi was delivered of a male child at around 11 a.m. near the drain on the Commercial Complex premises.

Members of the media fraternity who rushed to the spot called the 108 ambulance and the mother was admitted to the maternity ward, while the child was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Dean Dr. R. Vallinayagam told that an inquiry would be conducted.

Harassment by government hospital employees:-

Laxmi, who was admitted to the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, after delivering a baby near a drain, alleged that she was beaten by hospital employees, and demanded that she be discharged immediately. However, Dean Dr. R. Vallinayagam , citing her health condition, denied permission to leave the hospital.

Speaking to reporters in the hospital, Laxmi said that she was kept in an isolated room and hospital employees abused her and allegedly beat her for taking up the issue with the media. She demanded that her infant was given to her, so that she could leave the hospital.

Earlier, tension prevailed in the premises, when members of women association and Democratic Youth Federation of India demanded that action be taken against the employee who demanded Rs. 1,000 for the delivery, and for allowing her husband, Samuel (30), to be with her in the maternity ward. But the hospital administration said that men would not be allowed inside and asked members of the women association to be with her.

Earlier in the morning, a team, led by Dean Dr. R. Vallinayagam and Resident Medical Officer Geetha David, conducted an inquiry with the doctors and staff nurses who were on duty on night. Laxmi was asked to identify the woman who demanded money from her. But the woman could not be identified.

Dr. Vallinayagam said that another inquiry would be conducted with employees and sanitary workers and if the person could not be identified, a compliant would be lodged with the police stating that an ‘unauthorised person’ had entered the ward and demanded money from the patient. Salem Collector Mr. K. Maharabushanam told that further inquiry would be conducted and action would be taken accordingly.