According to a viral video from September 29, a doctor allegedly made a poor girl’s family and the Class 5 girl get out of an ambulance because they did not have enough money for the fuel charges of the emergency vehicle.
The incident took place in Dinrund Village in Majalgaon Taluka; the video sparked outrage on social media.
According to the reports, the girl suffered a seizure and fainted at a zila parishad school and was taken to a local primary health centre by the principal.
After her examination at the Dindrud PHC, the medical officer, Dr. Dhakne, referred them to a higher hospital.
However, according to the reports, it was alleged that the PHC staff asked her parents for diesel money to transfer the girl to another hospital.
The PHC ambulance service is a free service, but the staff allegedly asked the girl’s father to pay for the fuel. When the father informed them that he cannot afford the charges, they were asked to deboard the ambulance.
Majalgaon Tehsil Health Officer Dr. Madhurkar Ghubade told The Print, “he pleaded that he had no money. However, the family was asked to get off the ambulance.”
On Wednesday, District Health Officer Dr. Ulhas Gandal stated that a formal request for disciplinary action, including suspension, has been submitted to the Commissioner of Health Services.
An inquiry team comprising Additional District Health Officer Dr. Sanjay Kadam, Majalgaon Tehsil Health Officer Dr. Madhukar Ghubade, and Media Officer Sandipan Mandave inspected the health centre on orders from the Beed Zilla Parishad CEO.
According to the report, statements were recorded from the girl’s grandmother, father and mother during the inquiry.
On October 14, Dr. Nilesh Narayan Dhakne was relieved from his duties.
Dr. Gandal told The Print, “Dr Dhakne has been relieved of his responsibilities as medical officer at the Dindrud Primary Health Centre with immediate effect. Until further orders, his headquarters have been fixed at the Health Department office of the Beed Zilla Parishad.”
However, Dr. Dhakne later admitted to his mistake and said that he should have handled the situation better.
Dr. Gandal said, “A proposal for stringent disciplinary action has been submitted to the Commissioner of Health Services in Mumbai through the Deputy Director of Health Services, Latur, under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979.”
According to the reports, two other contractual medical officers working at health centres in Beed were also suspended because they were not present on duty during their shift.
(Rh/ARC)