Stop all surgeries under Arogyasri scheme, orders DC

Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim has said all major surgeries in Dakshina Kannada district under Vajpayee Arogyasri should be stopped till an inquiry into the death of an elderly woman and a child, after undergoing angioplasty and open heart surgery, at Omega Hospital in Mangaluru is complete.

Speaking after accepting memorandum from DHO Dr Ramakrishna and Karnataka Government Medical Officers Association DK unit President Dr Rajesh,  flaying an attempt to assault DHO who had been to Panaje PHC following unrest on Wednesday, the DC said DHO should form a committee comprising Taluk Health officers, representatives from IMA and other associations to conduct a probe into the incident. He also sought post-mortem report to ascertain the cause of death.

“I will seek a report from the hospital where surgery was conducted. Post surgery follow up should have been conducted. As per guidelines, the hospital should conduct the follow up,” he said.

It may be recalled that a team of doctors from the hospital had conducted a check-up camp at Panaje PHC on March 10.

The camp had identified 27 persons suffering from cardiac ailments, of which nine had undergone angioplasty and a nine-year-old who had undergone open heart surgery had died on the day of the surgery itself. Poovakka, who died on Tuesday had undergone surgery on March 13 and was discharged, on March 18.

However, she complained of health complications and hence was admitted to a hospital in Puttur where she breathed her last. When her body was brought to Panaje PHC, locals gathered and shouted slogans against the hospital. Hearing the news of unrest in Panaje PHC, DHO Dr Ramakrishna along with District Aids Prevention and Control unit (DAPCU) Officer Dr Kishore rushed to the spot.

The mob who had gathered in a fit of rage had attempted to assault DHO on Tuesday night. The police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Condemning the incident of attempt to assault DHO, all the staff of health department staged a protest by wearing black badge on Wednesday.

The DHO said he has already brought the issue of two deaths to the notice of Suvarna Arogya Trust Deputy Director to be brought to the notice of the Director. The Trust has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing Vajpayee Arogyasri scheme. “I have asked the Trust to send a team of experts to conduct an inquiry into the cause of death. Moreover, one more patient who had undergone surgery has developed swelling in hand.”

Karnataka Government Medical Officers Association DK unit President and district Surveillance Officer Dr Rajesh said that district health and family welfare officials are not directly involved in selecting beneficiaries and conducting surgeries.

Hence, there is a need to conduct an inquiry into the incident. The health department officials have the responsibility in implementing the health schemes initiated by the government.

In such a situation, an attempt to assault an official on duty does not help in discharging duty effectively. The police should arrest those who were responsible for assault. Suitable protection should be given to officials to discharge their duties, he added.