Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar on Saturday told the Assembly that action will be taken against those responsible for the transfusion of HIV-infected blood to a pregnant woman at the Sattur Government Hospital.
“Dr. Madhavi, Additional Director of Medical and Rural Health Services (P&D), is probing the incident. Action will be taken based on her report, and the government will spare none,” Mr. Vijaya Baskar said, responding to DMK leader M.K. Stalin’s query as to why action was confined to the dismissal of three lower-level employees. “Why no action was taken against the senior officials?” Mr. Stalin asked.
The Minister said the government will ensure that the child born to the woman does not get infected.
“The Chief Minister spoke to the husband of the woman. We will provide treatment [to the woman] at a government hospital. If they opt for a private hospital, we will bear the expenses,” Mr. Vijaya Baskar said while responding to a Calling Attention motion.
On Congress leader K.R. Ramasamy’s demand for utilising ID-Nucleic Acid Technology (NAT) to screen for HIV infection, the Minister said such a facility was being run as a pilot project at the Stanley Medical College at a cost of ₹2 crore.
Counselling for donor
Earlier, DMK member K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran said the government should make amends by providing for the woman’s livelihood since it would be difficult for her to get a job.
He also said the government should have provided counselling to the person who donated the blood. “He proved to be a good soul, since immediately after knowing that he had HIV, he informed the hospital,” Mr. Ramachandran said.