The unavailability of safety gears for doctors of 108 ambulance services is directly affecting the patients, who are not being taken aboard after presenting with flu-like symptoms. In one such incident which took place at 11.30 pm on October 4, a 59-year-old patient suffering from swine flu — and was in a critical state — was denied transportation from Khatav Regional Hospital in Satara by the doctors on the 108 service.
The patient was supposed to be shifted to Sassoon General Hospital in Pune for treatment, but had to be taken to a private hospital in the same area. It has caused the public health department to issue a show-case to the service providers on Thursday.
On October 4,Vikas Pawar was to be shifted to Pune from Rural Aundh Hospital in Khatav, given his critical condition. It was around this time that the request for 108 ambulance was raised. It arrived at the location, however, after looking at the patient’s history, doctors denied service as they did not have safety gears.
The incident came as a rude shock as 108 ambulances services — provided by Maharashtra Emergency Medical Services, BVG India — did have the equipment, which they claim is to be provided by the public health department. Furthermore, the demand for this provision was made on October 1.
Dr Amod Gadhikar, civil surgeon of Satara, said, “We have issued a showcause notice to the service provider. This is unacceptable — leaving a patient in the middle of the night just because he is suffering from swine flu. We have asked for the explanation from the Satara district head of 108 and are expecting a reply by tomorrow. The whole incident is absolutely wrong.”
He added that they were to get a reply on the denial of services on the same day itself. But, it was delayed as there was no complaint filed by the patient’s kin. “The complaint given by the family to the tehsildar is yet to reach to us,” Gadhikar said.
Dr Dnyaneshwar Shelke, chief operations officer of Maharashtra Emergency Medical Services, BVG India, while calling the incident unfortunate said that services are never denied at the control room and so, they will be taking action on the respective doctors. “There is nothing to panic about the swine flu as majority of the people have become immune to it. According to the records, the control room had dispatched the ambulance. The patient had spoken to the doctor and later was denied transportation. We want to know why this has happened and will ask them to give it in writing as well,” he said.
