It seems that patients in Uttar Pradesh are faced with a double whammy. While sweepers, ward boys and rickshaw-pullers treat them at government hospitals, quacks prey on them outside.
A woman and her son died in Bhadohi district, about 300 kilometres from here, allegedly after being administered a saline drip by a quack on Sunday night, according to reports.
Reports said Phoolmani Devi had been ill for the past few months.
On Friday, her husband took her to a quack Vijay Shanker Bind, who administered drips to her saying that it would give her strength as she was weak.
However, he withdrew the drip after the women complained of uneasiness a little later.
Bind then told Phoolmani’s son Virendra, who was also physically weak, that he would feel stronger if he was administered with the saline. However, Virendra’s condition began to worsen soon after being given the intravenous and before his family could take him elsewhere he died.
Phoolmani too died on Sunday night. It is alleged that the liquid given to the two was past its expiry date.
A case was registered against the quack who was absconding. Chief medical officer Dr Zubair Ahmed said the person who administered medication did not have any medical degree.
However, he expressed his inability to crack down on the quacks as they enjoyed political patronage.
An irate mob later laid a siege to local police station demanding action against the quack and also blocked traffic on the busy Grand Trunk Road near Aurain in the district.
The death of the two comes close on the heels of two other deaths at government hospitals in Ballia and Ambedkar Nagar where the victims were given injections by sweeper and rickshaw-puller.
There are reports of deliveries being done on the roof tops of the hospitals in some districts.
A few months ago, auxiliary nurse midwives were found engaged in delivery of babies under candlelight as there was no power and the generator was out of order at a community health centre in Barabanki district.