Telangana: 2 suspended as hospital turns away Covid positive pregnant woman | Hyderabad News

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HYDERABAD: A pregnant Chenchu tribal woman who had come to a government area hospital in Nagarkurnool’s Achampet for delivery was turned away after doctors found she was Covid-19 positive.
As her pleas to admit her fell on deaf ears, the family of Nimalla Lalamma waited outside the hospital gate where the woman gave birth to a baby girl on Tuesday. Health minister T Harish Rao took a serious view of the incident, following which superintendent of the area hospital and a doctor were suspended on Wednesday.
Lalamma of Banala in Balmoor mandal came to the hospital for delivery of her third baby on Tuesday morning. The doctors examined her. When they found that her Covid-19 test was positive, they referred her to the government hospital at Nagarkurnool. However, no ambulance was arranged to take her there.
Within 40 minutes, Lalamma started complaining of labour pains. With siblings’ assistance, Lalamma delivered the baby in the open area near the hospital gate. When the hospital staff saw this, they got her inside and provided her a room.
Lalamma’s sister Alivelu complained that they felt neglected by the hospital staff despite the fact that she began having strong laour pains.
Meanwhile, commissioner, Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad, has issued orders suspending superintendent of the hospital Dr Krishna and duty doctor Hari Babu.
“Clear instructions have been issued to all the government hospitals not to deny admission to pregnant women even if they were Covid-19 positive. The incident is an act of gross negligence and violation of rules by the staff concerned,” the commissioner said.
Superintendent of the district headquarters hospital, Nagarkurnool, has been asked to conduct a detailed enquiry and submit a report.