It is a tragic incident that a woman died at a railway station in West Bengal’s Purba Bardhaman district after the hospital failed to provide her with an ambulance while referring her to a larger medical facility. According to a police officer, the woman suffered from heat stroke while working in the field with her husband in Kachigoria village. She was taken to Bhatar hospital, where she was administered two bottles of saline and referred to Bardhaman Medical College and Hospital. However, the hospital authorities did not provide her with an ambulance and asked her husband to take her to Bardhaman in a private vehicle, which they could not afford. As a result, the husband decided to take her to Bardhaman by train and took her to the railway station on an e-rickshaw. The woman died under a tree while waiting for the train. The hospital authorities claimed that their ambulance had broken down and was being repaired. The health department has initiated an investigation into the incident, which is reminiscent of a similar tragedy that occurred in Jalpaiguri in January this year, where a man was forced to carry the body of his mother for kilometers after an ambulance demanded Rs 3,000 for transporting her mortal remains. A man was in the Jalpaiguri case forced to carry the body of his mother for kilometres after an ambulance demanded Rs 3,000 for transporting her mortal remains.
It is indeed a tragic incident. The lack of access to timely and affordable healthcare services in India’s rural areas has been a long-standing issue. The incident in Jalpaiguri highlights the challenges faced by people in accessing healthcare facilities, including transportation of patients and mortal remains. The government and healthcare authorities need to take proactive measures to improve healthcare infrastructure and facilities, especially in rural areas, to ensure timely and affordable healthcare services for all. Additionally, strict action must be taken against hospitals and healthcare providers who fail to provide necessary services to patients.
