SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, December 27: Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari strongly criticised AIIMS Deoghar for allegedly denying treatment to a poor tribal patient and referring him to RIMS Ranchi without providing medical care.
According to officials, the tribal patient from Basnli village in Deoghar district was referred to AIIMS Deoghar by the concerned Community Health Centre (CHC) on Friday night. However, doctors at AIIMS Deoghar reportedly referred the patient to RIMS Ranchi without initiating treatment.
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Dr Ansari said such actions tarnish the image of AIIMS Deoghar as a sensitive and advanced healthcare institution, adding that the government would not tolerate any form of irresponsibility in patient care.
Minister Rushes to Village After Late-Night Call
After returning to his village from AIIMS Deoghar late on Friday night, the patient’s wife contacted the health minister, informing him about her husband’s critical condition and appealing for immediate intervention to save his life.
Dr Ansari said he cancelled all his scheduled programmes and rushed to Basnli village. He expressed shock on learning that despite being referred by a local hospital, the patient was sent onward from AIIMS Deoghar to RIMS Ranchi without treatment.
Due to financial constraints, the poor tribal patient could not afford the ambulance charges to Ranchi and was forced to return to his village instead of travelling for further care.
‘Where Will Poor Patients Go?’ Minister Asks
“Poor and tribal patients go to AIIMS Deoghar with great hope. If AIIMS Deoghar itself refers such patients elsewhere, where will they go and what is the purpose of having AIIMS here?” Dr Ansari said.
The health minister described the referral of a poor patient by AIIMS Deoghar as a serious matter and questioned whether the institute’s management was unwilling to take responsibility for treating economically weaker patients.
“If AIIMS Deoghar does not have the required facilities, it should inform me. I will personally visit AIIMS and discuss the matter with the officials,” he added.
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Family Thanks Minister for Intervention
The victim’s family expressed deep gratitude to the health minister for his intervention. The patient’s wife said that her husband’s life was saved due to Dr Ansari’s timely efforts.
The incident has sparked concerns over the treatment of poor and tribal patients at major healthcare institutions and the referral practices followed by tertiary hospitals.
