Ambulance denied to a pregnant lady dying with labour pain

Kupwara, June 2, KNT: A pregnant lady was forced to arrange a private vehicle after Block Medical Officer allegedly refused to provide her ambulance in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Muhammad Qasim, a resident of Wokbal Hafrada village of Kupwara told news agency KNT that after developing labour pain, he took her wife to Primary Health Centre Taharatpora Vilgam where doctors advised him to get his wife shifted to District Hospital Handwara.

“My wife was dying with labour pain. When I requested doctors to provide an ambulance for her, so that he could cover 22 kilometer distance without any delay, they refused to oblige. Even, Block Medical Officer didn’t give heed to my repeated requests,” Muhammad Qasim said.

The family members somehow managed to arrange a private Sumo and shifted the pregnant lady to District Hospital Handwara.

“What is the fun of an ambulance when it is used for the benefit of emergency patients? Two years back, few days before Eid-ul-Azha, photographs of an ambulance ferrying sacrificial goats had gone viral on social media. Ambulances are used for personal use and not for emergency cases, and this is very unfortunate.”

Efforts to contact Block Medical Officer in question didn’t materialize as he didn’t pick up the phone.

Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Samir Matoo told KNT that he can’t help as he himself is in quarantine. (KNT)