The activists of Chikodi Jilla Horata Samiti, along with other social organisations, protested on Saturday, condemning the death of a new mother in Chikodi Mother-Child Hospital on Friday. They claimed she did not receive timely and proper treatment and demanded strict action against the negligent officials. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the health minister and chief minister through the assistant commissioner.
Speaking at the event, social worker Chandrakant Hukkeri stated that to benefit the poor people of rural Chikodi, a Mother-Child Hospital was built in Chikodi town at a cost of more than Rs 28 crore due to the efforts of former MP Prakash Hukkeri and MLA Ganesh Hukkeri. "However, the poor people are not receiving proper facilities and treatment in the hospital. On Friday, Nov 15, a new mother named Fiza Atif Sanadi died during treatment. After the death of a healthy woman, her family also protested. There were strong opinions that the negligence of the medical officers caused the death. The health department officials are directly responsible for this, and the govt should take immediate action," he said.
"Several doctors serving in the govt hospital in Chikodi town are running their own private hospitals. They were accused of showing more interest in private hospitals instead of paying attention to the patients in the govt hospital for their own benefit," he said.
Sanju Badiger, president of Chikodi Jilla Horata Samiti, said that there is a govt rule that those in govt service cannot hold any other lucrative position and cannot do private work. "However, the doctors here do not have any responsibility. The health minister should pay attention to this. The govt should conduct a proper investigation, take appropriate legal action against the guilty health department officials, and provide justice to the woman's family. If a similar incident occurs again, a fierce struggle will be launched," he said.
Accepting the memorandum, tahsildar Pramila Deshpande said that the appeal will be sent to the minister through DC for further action. Santosh Pujari, Rafiq Pathan, Ramesh Patil, Rudrayya Hiremath, and Rajendra Patil were present.