Maharashtra: Women give birth on roadside as hospitals deny entry

Two women from Maharashtra, who were reportedly denied admission by hospitals, were forced to give birth to babies on the road. The incident has sparked controversy and questions are being raised about the healthcare set-up in the state.

Kolhapur/Nashik (Maharashtra): The medical set-up in Maharashtra was embroiled in a controversy when two women were forced to deliver their babies on the roadside as they were denied entry into hospitals. According to reports, the hospitals did not allow entry of the patients citing 'coronavirus reasons'.

In two separate incidents, the women reportedly failed to get any aid from the hospital authorities, compelling them to give birth to their babies on road. The family members of the pregnant ladies alleged that they failed to get medical help from the government and private hospitals amid lockdown.

The cases of gross medical negligence have sparked wide outrage in the state with family members demanding strict action against the authorities.

In the first incident, a pregnant woman from Ajra in Kolhapur district developed labour pain on Sunday night following which she was rushed to the nearby primary health care centre. The family members of the woman claimed that the hospital authorities denied admission, asking her to undergo a COVID-19 test.

"The woman was experiencing severe labour pain but the hospital was insisting for a COVID test. We requested them to admit her but they wanted a corona test to be done. Being denied admission, the woman was forced to give birth outside the hospital," the family members said.

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The father-in-law of the woman said, "We made several rounds of the hospital in Gandhinglaj Taluk. But they didn't let us in. Everybody was adamant on getting a COVID-19 test done. At last, when she was not able to bear the pain, she gave birth outside the hospital."

In another similar incident, a woman was not allowed entry into Nashik Municipal Corporation's Morwadi Hospital on the night of September 3. The family claimed that the doctors present at the hospital had sent her back home but on the way she developed extreme pain.

According to reports, she gave birth to the baby on the roadside. Later on, she was taken to the Morwadi Hospital where her health worsened after being administered anaesthesia. The authorities collected the swab samples and her corona test was found positive. At present, the baby and the woman have been admitted to the COVID ward of the hospital.

The incidents have once again raised questions about the health infrastructure, putting the lives of the mother and the babies at grave risk.