Pregnant doctor saves farmer’s life by driving him to hospital in Nashik

NASHIK: Dr Priyanka Pawar has been applauded by the Nashik health authorities for driving an ambulance to transport a farmer (27) who needed urgent care.
Being five months pregnant did not deter her from getting behind the ambulance wheel as the only thing that mattered, according to her, was to save the patient’s life.
A medical officer at the Mhalsakore primary health centre (PHC) in Niphad, Pawar drove the PHC ambulance on Tuesday night to shift the farmer. The 27-year-old was brought to the PHC in a serious condition after having consumed some poisonous substance.
Pawar drove the ambulance to the Niphad rural hospital, for better medical tretment. The hospital is 15km away from the PHC and Pawar drove at 70kmph and reached within 20 minutes.
Pawar told TOI, “When the farmer, Sachin Sonawane, was brought to the PHC by his wife, his condition was grave. After examining him, I realised that he needed to be transferred to the rural hospital where the treatment facilities are better.”
She added, “However, we were faced with a logical dilemma as our ambulance driver was on applied leave. I have a driving licence for a four-wheeler but never drove an ambulance. Occasionally, I did drive the PHC ambulance within the premises, just to get a hang of it. I immediately took the decision that I would drive the vehicle to ferry the patient.”
The road condition between the PHC and the rural hospital is good and Pawar was accompanied by a PHC paramedical staff member. The patient was wheeled into the rural hospital and the treatment started immediately and is now stable.
“I did not think twice about my pregnancy. At that point of time, my only concern was to save the life of the farmer. After ensuring that the farmer was in stable condition, I drove back to the PHC with the ambulance,” Pawar said.