Trauma Centre deaths: Delhi govt announces Rs 2 lakh compensation

The Delhi government announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of the four patients who died in a state-run hospital allegedly due snapping of oxygen supply.

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Wednesday announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of the four patients who died in a state-run hospital allegedly due snapping of oxygen supply, even as one more critically-ill patient breathed his last there with his family alleging that the reason for his death was same.

Facing criticism, the government indicated punitive action based on the report of the probe panel which visited the Sushrut Trauma Centre in North Delhi where the incident had taken place yesterday. "It was a tragic incident. The government has decided to pay an amount of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said. Health Minister AK Walia said an FIR has already been lodged against the contractor who was tasked to run the oxygen supply system in the hospital. Police has been asked to expedite the probe. The private entity, which had set up the network, was maintaining the oxygen supply facility. According to preliminary findings, the patients died as the contractor failed to ensure supply of oxygen when the cylinder supplying oxygen ran out. The four deceased were among five patients who were in the ICU of the hospital. The fifth patient, 55-year-old Vikram Singh, who was stated to be stable on Tuesday died on Wednesday and his family members claimed that he died due to negligence. "My father died due to negligence of the hospital. His condition deteriorated following snapping of oxygen supply on Tuesday night," Vikram`s son Ombir said. Health department officials, however, said though Vikram could have been affected by snapping of the oxygen supply, he may have died because of his illness also. Meanwhile, Walia today held a meeting with medical superintendents of the 37 Delhi government-run hospitals. He asked them to urgently review functioning of health delivery system and take all necessary steps so that such incident do not recur. He also constituted a four-member panel under chairmanship of Arun Kumar Agarwal, the dean of Maulana Azad Medical College, to review the existing medical facilities and make necessary recommendations to improve the services. Walia said government will take necessary steps based on the status and requirements of each hospital. The Committee has been told to visit each of the 37 Delhi government-run hospitals and submit a detailed report within a fortnight. PTI