A 30-year-old woman was forced to give birth in an autorickshaw after being denied admission to Neemuch district hospital in Madhya Pradesh due to the absence of an anesthetist. The event has raised serious concerns about healthcare access and emergency response in rural areas, prompting local authorities to initiate an investigation.
The woman, identified as Rajni, began experiencing labor pains around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Her husband, Dinesh Silavat, from the Gangrar area of Chittorgarh district in Rajasthan, had been living in Malkheda village in Neemuch for some days. He took his wife to the district hospital in a rickshaw, desperate for medical assistance. But when Rajni arrived, the hospital staff refused to admit her, claiming they were short on staff with doctors and anesthetists.
Despite Dinesh’s repeated requests, the hospital staff instructed him to take his wife to Udaipur, Rajasthan. “Despite my repeated requests, they did not budge, and women staffers told us to leave the hospital,” Dinesh recounted. As they exited the hospital around 4 p.m., Rajni gave birth in the autorickshaw. Sheets were given to her by compassionate bystanders to protect her privacy during the delivery.
After gaining information about the birth, the hospital staff allowed Rajni and her newborn to be admitted. Maternity department head Dr. Lad Dhakad explained the hospital's inability to handle the situation. He stated that the anesthetist was on leave, making cesarean deliveries impossible that day. Additionally, the hospital was understaffed even for regular duties. Dr. Dhakad noted that his duty ended at 2 o’clock, and when the staff informed him about Rajni’s condition, he observed that her blood pressure was dangerously high. He advised the family to seek care at a larger hospital to avoid risks, but they chose to stay.
The district collector, Dinesh Jain, has ordered an inquiry into the incident. He assured me that action would be taken if anyone was found guilty of neglect.
Dinesh Silavat shared his experience with reporters, expressing his frustration and fear during the encounter. Living off a modest salary from blanket sales, he had hoped his wife would receive the treatment she needed in the hospital. The denial of admission and the subsequent birth in an autorickshaw outside the hospital have brought up the challenges faced by residents in rural areas when accessing timely and adequate medical care.
Officials have reported that both the mother and her newborn are now in good health after being admitted to the hospital.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
