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A State-run hospital here is in the eye of a controversy over ‘mass caesarians' conducted on pregnant women in the space of just two days allegedly to suit the ‘holiday' plans of gynaecologists, prompting the Kerala Government to order a probe.
The matter came to light with relatives of some of the women alleging that as many as 21 caesarian sections — a surgical procedure — were performed on Tuesday and Wednesday so that the three doctors in the gynaecology department at the Cherthala Taluk Hospital could be off duty during the long Easter holidays in the State.
String of holidays
The State Government is having a string of holidays since Thursday, ahead of Easter. But there are restrictions on doctors and paramedics in the Government Health services absenting from duty on holidays. Today is a Good Friday holiday.
Taking a serious view of the case, State Health Minister, Ms P. K. Sreemathy, today said a special team led by the State Health Director would probe the matter.
“We have taken the matter seriously,” she said.
District Collector, Mr P. Venugopal, also sought an urgent report from the District Medical Officer on the issue. A meeting would be held here tomorrow to discuss the report, official sources said.
Relatives had alleged that some of these cases involved women who could wait till next Sunday for delivery. Pregnant women whose date is due next week were also subjected to caesarean.
They alleged that the operations were advanced without bothering about the facilities available in the hospital, which allowed only a handful of deliveries or caesarian procedure to be performed on a day.
Many of the mothers along with their new born babies are lying on the floors as the beds are fully occupied.
The bed-strength and treatment facilities in the hospital was said to be inadequate for proper post-delivery care of mothers and newborn infants.
Meanwhile, activists of CPI-M's youth wing DYFI took out a march to the hospital demanding stringent action against the doctors.
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