Unfazed by docs’ strike, Vij meets Jind woman’s kin

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jind, May 24

Health Minister Anil Vij visited Khark Ramji village in the district today to meet the family of the Jind woman who died after her delivery at the Rohtak PGIMS.

As per PGIMS doctors Neelam died after delivering a stillborn baby on May 18. Unfazed by the doctors’ strike, Vij assured Neelam’s family that justice would be delivered and announced strict action against those who were involved in the crime.

He also announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the family members from the Health Minister’s fund. Vij reached Neelam’s house around 4.30pm to meet her family. He gathered information in detail about the incident from Neelam’s father-in-law Satbir Singh and her husband Sunil.

He also interacted with the neighbours to ascertain whether she died due to negligence of PGIMS doctors.

Vij also said the Health Department staff should have conducted a post-mortem exam of the mother and the infant after their death, to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Neelam’s husband told the minister that the infant was born after a normal delivery, but post-delivery due to the carelessness and poor handling of the health staff, the baby fell on the hospital floor and died. He alleged his wife also died due to lack of medical care.

Before meeting the victim’s family, Vij interacted with mediapersons at the local PWD guest house and said he would improve the functioning of the Health Department at all costs and “no one can stop me from doing so.”

When asked if he suspended anymore doctors, it would add to the severe shortage of doctors in Haryana, and many doctors were already announcing to resign from government service due to his interference, Vij said such threats could not stop him and he would continue to take action against negligent doctors.