Doc dies of pneumonia as ‘negligent’ hospital awaits his swine flu report

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 27

The death of Dr Bhupinder Singh, a paediatrician at Government Hospital, Bishnah, has exposed the poor health services at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Jammu.

Bhupinder Singh died yesterday while being airlifted to New Delhi from Jammu Airport. He was admitted to the hospital after he showed symptoms of swine flu, but was tested negative for it. The swine flu report was received by the hospital today.

It has now been confirmed that Bhupinder Singh died of pneumonia.

Sources said doctors at the GMCH failed to provide him medical assistance and waited for the swine flu report, which takes three days to reach the hospital.

Sources said doctors at the GMCH had refused to accompany Bhupinder to New Delhi. Instead, two nursing orderlies were sent with him but he died before the airlift.

“We are shocked. For the last two days, he was kept in an isolation ward without any medical help. He died of pneumonia and doctors failed to detect it. What will be the fate of the common man if the doctor is not safe,” said a source.

Nodal Officer at the GMCH Deepak Kapoor refused to comment on the death.

Meanwhile, nine patients have been tested positive for swine flu in Jammu.

An Army jawan, havildar Dangar Bavan Danabhai, serving in the Crossed Swords Division and admitted to Military Hospital on February 14, died of swine flu today. This is the first Army casualty due to swine flu.

The Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, has dispatched 4,440 Tamiflu tablets to hospitals in the Jammu region and 400 PPE kits have also been provided.

Of the 300 N-95 masks received, in addition to already available 122 masks, 100 masks have been issued to the GMCH and 220 to the district hospitals in the Jammu region.