Dalit woman ‘denied’ hospital admission over caste, gives birth by UP roadside

A 20-year-old woman from the Dalit Mushar community faced denial of admission at a government hospital

VARANASI: A woman from the Dalit Mushar community, allegedly denied admission to a govt hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi because of her caste, gave birth in a public area outside the health facility, leading to dismissal of the on-duty doctor and action against others.Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak, who is also in-charge of health department, took serious note of the issue after a video of the incident was widely circulated online.The woman, Rani (20), was brought to Maharaja Chet Singh District Hospital in Gyanpur Tuesday night after she went into labour. Her family alleged that hospital staff refused to admit her after identifying her as Musahar. While leaving the hospital, Rani’s condition worsened.

Her family helped her deliver the baby on the roadside.Later, CMO Dr SK Chak got the mother and the newborn admitted to the hospital and ordered an inquiry.Following the findings of the four-member panel, EMO Dr Pankaj was sacked, staff nurse Neelam Maurya was transferred, and the salary of obstetrician Dr Mukesh Prajapati was withheld. A recommendation has also been sent to the state govt for action against CMS Dr Ajay Tiwari and Dr Neelima Dhawan.

As per the inquiry report, Dr Pankaj, who was on duty when Rani arrived, referred her without examination; while Dr Dhawan had reportedly examined Rani a day earlier but referred her elsewhere instead of admitting her, despite her severe anaemia. The CMS, too, was found to have been negligent in handling the case.Dr Prajapati was found to have been outside the district at the time and had reached the hospital about one-and-a-half hours later. And the nurse had allegedly refused her admission while referring to the family as Musahar.