CPI(M) leader and MLC M.V.S. Sarma and CITU-affiliated Steel Plant Employees’ Union (SPEU) have asked District Collector J. Syamal Rao to probe into negligence by several hospitals causing the first swine flu death in the city.
Mr. Sarma wrote a letter to the Collector listing out the circumstances leading to the death of K. Jagadeswara Rao, Manager of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on October 1 and SPEU leaders held a press conference at Gajuwaka on Sunday blaming VSP management as well as Government Chest Hospital and two private and a corporate hospital for the death of Rao, 39, a product of IIT-Kharagpur.
Mr. Sarma wondered how the Government Chest Hospital, in spite of an undertaking by the relatives of the patient, discharged him on knowing that he was a suspected swine flu patient and criticised the corporate hospital for refusing treatment knowing that he was diagnosed positive for swine flu and a private hospital in Maharanipeta for discharging him midway through after putting him on ventilator.
Concern expressed
Mr. Sarma in a separate letter to the Chairman and Managing Director of VSP demanded facilities for treatment of swine flu at Steel General Hospital on which 35,000 employees both regular and contract were dependent.
SPEU president J. Ayodhyaram and general secretary P. Gurrappa said negligence was the main cause of Jagadeeswara Rao’s death. He was reportedly vomiting on September 19 while on duty after which he was taken to the coke oven first aid centre. There he was reportedly asked to take rest after giving some anti-vomiting tablets.
Mr. Ayodhyaram alleged that Rao was referred as outpatient to Steel General Hospital on September 22, 24 and 29 with some symptoms of swine flu but he was not advised to take swine flu tests.
He fainted in his Muralinagar house on September 30 due to weakness and later he was taken to a private hospital near Collectorate.
After that he had to travel between Chest Hospital, a corporate hospital and another private hospital and finally died in the Chest Hospital following deterioration in his condition.
‘Facilities needed’
The union leader said Steel General Hospital should have a ventilator and other facilities for treatment of critically ill patients including those suffering from swine flu.
