Protests erupt over pregnant woman's death at Odisha Hospital

Umerkote: Following the tragic death of a 28-year-old pregnant ASHA worker at Umerkote Sub-Divisional Hospital, tension flared across the region as fellow health workers and labour unions staged protests, alleging gross medical negligence by the hospital authorities.

The deceased, Daimati Bhatra, a resident of Semala village, was admitted to Umerkote Sub-Divisional Hospital on Sunday afternoon after experiencing labour pains. After nearly three hours of treatment, she was referred to the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital. However, she died en route, and the newborn could not be saved either.

Grieving family members and enraged colleagues staged a protest at DNK Medical Square, placing her body on the road and demanding immediate action against the attending doctors. They alleged that the delay in referral and lack of timely intervention amounted to medical negligence.

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Speaking to TNIE, superintendent of the sub-divisional hospital Dr Sarat Chandra Sethy said the exact cause of death can be ascertained only after the postmortem report arrives.

In a related incident that has further raised concerns about healthcare delivery in Odisha, a 58-year-old woman from Brahamankhand village in Jagatsinghpur district died on Sunday while being shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack — allegedly due to lack of oxygen in a private ambulance.

The deceased, a resident of Brahamankhand village, had been undergoing treatment at the Jagatsinghpur District Headquarters Hospital. As her condition worsened, doctors recommended immediate transfer to SCB in Cuttack. However, due to the unavailability of a government-run 108 ambulance, the family arranged for a private one.

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These back-to-back incidents have intensified scrutiny of Odisha's rural healthcare infrastructure, especially regarding emergency care and referral procedures.