Beed PHC doctor faces action after girl allegedly asked to leave ambulance over diesel money
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Following outrage over an incident in which an 11-year-old girl suffering from a seizure was allegedly asked to get off an ambulance because her family could not afford the cost of diesel, a government doctor in Maharashtra’s Beed district has been stripped of his charge and is facing disciplinary action. The girl has since recovered.
The incident, which reportedly took place on September 29 at Dindrud village in Majalgaon taluka, triggered widespread outrage after a video surfaced on social media, raising serious concerns over the treatment of economically disadvantaged patients at government healthcare facilities, the Daily reported.
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According to Zilla Parishad officials, a class V girl suffered a seizure while at school and was taken to the Dindrud primary health centre (PHC) by her headmaster.
After examining the girl, the medical officer reportedly referred her to a higher hospital for further treatment. However, PHC staff allegedly demanded money for diesel to transport the child in a patient vehicle.
When the girl's relatives expressed their inability to pay, they were allegedly asked to get her off the ambulance, officials said.
The viral video shows the distraught father hoisting his unconscious child onto his shoulder and setting out on foot towards a private clinic, as the PHC staff looked on. The girl’s grandmother alleged that when she broke down and tried to explain the family’s poor economic condition, the doctor told her, “If you cannot take care of children, why do you have them,” reports PTI.
Taking serious note of the incident, the Beed Zilla Parishad withdrew the medical officer's charge with immediate effect and initiated the process for disciplinary action.
“Taking serious cognisance of the reports, prima facie negligence and dereliction of duty has been found on the part of the medical officer. His charge is withdrawn with immediate effect. A proposal for disciplinary action under Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, has been sent to the commissioner, health services, Mumbai,” district health officer Dr Ulhas Gandal said in an order, reports TOI.
The girl's family also alleged that the medical officer used insulting language when they expressed their inability to pay for the ambulance service.
Speaking to TOI, her grandmother said, “She is among my four grandchildren, who lost their mother around six years ago. My son is a worker. When we expressed inability to pay money for the ambulance, the medical officer used insulting language.”
The doctor acknowledged using inappropriate language but defended his overall record, assuring that such an incident would not be repeated.
“The ambulance is reserved for pregnant women, but I should not have spoken in a berating manner. It was my mistake,” he added.
The incident has renewed concerns over access to emergency healthcare for poor and vulnerable families.
Officials clarified that government ambulance services operating under the 102 and 108 schemes are free of cost and that no patient or family member can be asked to pay for fuel.
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