Delay in the arrival of ambulance to transport a 14-year-old girl suffering from renal failure to hospital resulted in her death on Sunday night. The government has ordered an inquiry.
Sarika, 14, daughter of a weaver in Kannigapuram in Kancheepuram, was studying in Standard X at Government High School, Nazarathpettai.
She had undergone treatment for renal failure at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), Chennai, a few months ago, officials said.
She suddenly developed breathing problems and was admitted to the Government District Headquarters hospital at Kancheepuram.
On Sunday, doctors referred her to Chengalpattu Medical College hospital. Officials said that Sarika’s family insisted that she be transferred to RGGGH by 108 ambulance.
Brought dead
While the family made the decision at 1.30 p.m, the ambulance arrived only around 7.30 p.m to take her to Chennai. But at RGGGH, the authorities declared that Sarika was brought dead. Her parents said that she died because of the inordinate delay in providing ambulance service.
On Monday morning, the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services Dr. M.R.Enbasekaran conducted an inquiry at the Government District Headquarters hospital in Kancheepuram.
Talking to reporters, Dr.Enbasekaran said that all necessary treatment was provided to Sarika at the hospital till she boarded the ambulance.
The ambulance first allotted to her suffered a breakdown around 4.30 p.m. and another ambulance had to be allotted, he said.
Final report
The final report would be presented to the government on Tuesday after inspecting the emergency call ledger of the ‘108’ ambulance service, he added.
Enquiries with the 108 emergency service providers revealed that the regional managers had to obtain permission from their headquarters at Chennai in case of request for inter-district transportation.
“The government has instituted an inquiry. We are looking into the delay and communication issues as well as set up a protocol on escalation of calls in case an ambulance is not immediately available. We are also going to strengthen healthcare facilities to ensure they can stabilise patients until an ambulance is available," Health secretary J. Radhakrishnan said.
The Kanchi Taluk police have registered a case under section 174 of IPC based on a petition submitted by Sarika’s father on Monday.