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Semmalai must quit for Salem hospital incidents: Arumugham

By Our Special Correspondent

SALEM Nov. 27. The former Agriculture Minister, Veerapandi S. Arumugham, today demanded that the Health Minister, S. Semmalai, quit his post owning moral responsibility for the recent deaths and the amputation of the right hand of an eight-month-old-child in the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital.

After visiting Husain, who is recuperating at the hospital after yesterday's amputation, Mr. Arumugham told presspersons that of late there had been a plethora of complaints about the negligence of the medicos at the hospital.

Husain was admitted in the hospital for diarrhoea.

His right hand developed gangrene after he was put on IV fluids and was subsequently amputated.

``Bitter incidents were occurring in frequent succession in the hospital to an unprecedented level.''

Recently, Solaiammal, a pregnant woman, and Prema, a four-year-old child, died ``due to either lack of proper medical attention or wrong treatment,'' Mr. Arumugham said.

He also urged the State Government to give a compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs to Husain.

Mr. Arumugham suggested the amount could be deposited in the name of Husain, with his parents as guardians, so that when he grew up it would be of help to him.

Mr. Arumugham said it had come to his notice that the hospital did not have adequate quality medicines. Moreover, the nurses and hospital staff were said to be demanding money from patients.

Even for allotting cots, money was collected, and if the patients refused to pay, they were forced to lie on the floor.

The duty nurse showed Mr. Arumugham the case sheet relating to Husain, and the former Mayor, G. Soodamani, who was a surgeon, inspected the records.

It was found that the Veerapandi MLA, S.K. Selvam, had given a recommendation letter to the hospital authorities to take proper care of the child.

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