Woman dies as anti-snake venom unavailable at hospital

Sushil Manav

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Tribune News Service

Sirsa, June 19

Apathy of doctors in the General Hospital led to the death of a 27-year-old woman due to the non- availability anti-snake venom (ASV).

Doctors told her family they could not treat her since ASV was out of stock. She was shifted to a Janta Hospital, a charitable hospital, where the doctors gave a similar reply.

Not knowing what to do, they were on the way to a vaid in his village but the woman died en route.

Sunita (27), a mother of two, was married in Bhadra in Rajasthan was visiting her parents in Railway Colony here when the incident occurred.

“She was sleeping outside. When it started raining, she rushed inside. She was sleeping on the floor when a snake bit her about 2 am,” said Rani, the deceased’s sister-in-law.

“Within 15 minutes, we were at the hospital. However, the doctors bluntly told us that they did not have the venom needed to treat her,” she alleged.

Civil Surgeon Surinder Nain saidf the ASV was available but expressed ignorance about Sunita’s case.

Later, he called this reporter to clarify Sunita was referred by doctors due to lack of a medical specialist and not due to non-availability of ASV. The staff said it could not be established that it was a case of snakebite, but once they were sure she was administered two injections of the ASV, he added.

Dr Ajay Chetal, a physician in Janata Hospital, could not be contacted.