Allegations of absence of doctors, power outage at Medak government hospital after farmer’s death

Allegations of absence of doctors, a power outage and inadequate emergency facilities at the Government General Hospital in Medak have come to light after a 65-year-old farmer, who was critically injured in a road accident, died after being shifted to the hospital.

The deceased, Tirupati Kishan, a resident of Aurangabad village in Haveli Ghanpur mandal, was reportedly rushed to the government hospital after an unidentified car hit him near Aurangabad Gate, close to the Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple, at around 10.45 p.m. on November 3.

Narsimhulu, the eldest son of the deceased, Tirupati Kishan, alleged that there was no electricity at the hospital when his father was brought in for emergency treatment. He added that doctors were unavailable for approximately 30 minutes and that the hospital lacked adequate emergency facilities to attend to his critical condition.

The family has attributed his death to negligence and lack of basic medical infrastructure and timely medical attention. Kishan’s children questioned how a government hospital could fail to provide essential emergency services when a patient’s life was at risk.

The family has urged Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha, the District Collector, the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) and the hospital authorities to order an inquiry into the incident. They have also sought an examination of the hospital’s power backup arrangements and emergency infrastructure, besides an investigation into the absence of doctors during the emergency.

According to details of the accident, Kishan sustained severe head injuries and bleeding injuries to other parts of his body after a speeding car allegedly hit him from behind while he was crossing the road near Aurangabad Gate. Local residents arranged for an ambulance to shift him to the government hospital.

Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding the accident have also drawn attention to the difficulties faced by local farmers in selling their produce. Kishan had recently harvested paddy and was preparing to sell his crop. In the absence of a government Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) paddy procurement centre in the vicinity, he was reportedly forced to approach private traders and middlemen to sell his harvest.

A complaint has been lodged with the police, and the family has demanded that the unidentified vehicle and its driver be traced by examining CCTV footage in the surrounding areas. The family has also sought financial compensation and welfare assistance from the government. Other demands include the establishment of an IKP procurement centre for farmers in Aurangabad, Haveli Ghanpur and neighbouring villages to reduce their dependence on middlemen.

By the time of filing this report, The Hindu had reached out to the Superintendent of GGH Medak and the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) for their response to the allegations. However, no response had been received.