THE JHARKHAND STORY NETW0RK
Daltonganj, Aug 20: The response of 108 ambulances to emergency calls made by the doctors on duty is highly irresponsible and erratic. 108 ambulances do not take calls. It happens at regular intervals.
On the intervening night of August 17/18, the 108 ambulances repeated their same indifference to the emergency calls made to it by a doctor on duty at the MMCH Daltonganj.
Medical superintendent lodges complaint
In a written complaint lodged with the Town police station by the medical superintendent Dr D K Singh on August 18, it has been mentioned that following no response from 108 ambulance on the intervening night of August 17/18, people who had brought in a severe road accident victim in the MMCH Daltonganj, got enraged and indulged in abusing and manhandling the doctor and other medical staff on duty. The doctor on duty and other staff were threatened too.
The road accident victim was an unknown male aged 50 years old. He was brought to the MMCH Daltonganj around 10 at night.
This ugly and life-threatening situation could not have occurred had the 108 ambulance taken the emergency call and acted accordingly to the emergency calls. It sat silent on the calls.
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Criminal negligence of 108 ambulances
It’s the criminal negligence and apathy of the 108 ambulances which led to such an episode that the MMCH Daltonganj can hardly afford at such a time when the whole country is shocked and angry over the rape cum murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.
This avoidable incident in the MMCH Daltonganj suggests doctors and nurses are at the mercy of the attendants of the patients who appear to have a licence to bully the doctors and paramedics.
Incidentally, this incident occurred on the night of August 17 when in the evening of it scores of doctors, nurses and medicos had taken out a protest candle march in the town of Daltonganj against the horrific rape cum murder of the trainee doctor in Kolkata. The protest marchers were demanding safety and security but hours later the same night there was manhandling with the doctor on emergency duty in the MMCH Daltonganj.
Apart from the failure of the 108 ambulances, the role of the HG jawans on duty on that night was also of gross negligence and indifference.
Homeguard jawans remain mute spectators
The HG jawans remained mute spectators to the hooliganism enacted in the emergency room by the people who had brought in a severe road accident victim with the doctor on duty in the MMCH Daltonganj.
The angry people forced the doctor on duty to take responsibility for the failure of the 108 ambulances to respond to the emergency calls.
Here it is most opportune to mention that 108 ambulances do not come under the administrative purview of a doctor.
The officer in charge of the town police station Deobrata Poddar, when contacted, said, “A written complaint has come. There did take place hot talk. There had come a serious road accident victim. He was advised to have a CT scan. His condition was sinking. 108 ambulance was called. The problem erupted when the 108 ambulance didn’t respond to the calls made to it. Police are investigating the matter.”
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Dr R K Ranjan, a senior physician said, “We need people’s cooperation in giving the best of the available medical care here. Our resources here are limited. There is no room for creating ugly and life-threatening scenes. It never helps.”
Civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar said the entire episode was recorded on the CCTV camera. Images would be scanned.
“It is alleged some insiders fuelled the situation wherein the doctor and other staff were abused and manhandled. Such insiders will not get away. There will be action against them if allegations of their hand in gloves with unruly people are proved true.”
