Delayed treatment under EWS quota kills woman in National Capital

A 26-year-old woman lost her life because of being denied treatment under the economically weaker section (EWS) quota at a private hospital in the national Capital. While the hospital denies any medical negligence, the family of the patient is now holding a protest against the hospital administration and are demanding an FIR be registered.

Naseema Khatoon, who was suffering from meningeal tuberculosis since the past one week, was referred to the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital late on Tuesday night. The family alleges that the patient was brought outside the Apollo emergency around midnight, but was refused a treatment under EWS quota citing unavailability of beds. Naseema was only admitted four hours later after the family called the police.

"They first asked us to deposit Rs 1 lakh and said that is the charge for per day treatment, but when we showed our EWS cards, they said there are no beds available. She was waiting for four hours in the ambulance without treatment and the drip, too, got over. We called the police and threatened to register an FIR, after which they admitted her but did not provide good treatment," said Mohammad Shadab, Naseema's brother.

The family, along with 100 other people, has been protesting outside the hospital since Wednesday afternoon after Naseema died at 1 pm. They are demanding an FIR be registered or Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal intervenes.

"The 26-year-old patient was received at Apollo in a critical condition on ventilator support and on ionotropes. She was unresponsive with dilated pupils and absent brainstem signs. The family was made aware of the patient 's critical condition and counselled about the high risks and grave prognosis. All possible medical care was extended but unfortunately, the patient passed away this afternoon. The hospital has offered a post-mortem to allay the concerns of the family," stated the hospital in a release.

Meanwhile, Amanatullah Khan, Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Okhla has taken got to know the matter suo motu."I got to know about the tragic incident will see how we can help the family," said.

Naseema's family also alleges that this kind of an attitude by private hospitals towards EWS patients is common and despite the government's efforts, the hospitals do not keep 10 per cent beds for the economically weaker patients.