3 months after the death of city's first swine flu victim, details of enquiry into her death are yet to be revealed
3 months after the death of city's first swine flu victim, details of enquiry into her death are yet to be revealed
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It's been three months since Reeda Shaikh (14), a student of St Anne's school, became Pune's first casualty to swine flu. Her parents had charged Jahangir Hospital (where she died) and Ruby Hall Clinic (where her swab had been sent) with medical negligence. However, the state and city authorities are yet to decide amongst themselves who is the appropriate authority to take action.
Meanwhile, Reeda's family said the case was being handled by the Crime Branch, but DCP Anil Kumbhare claimed it was with Bund Garden police.
Police officials following the case say that a threeu00e2u0080u0093member committee had been formed to look into the case and its report is awaited. However, state officials claim the report has already been submitted, but no one knows who is the 'acting' authority.
According to Dr D S Dakure, state director of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the case is with the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER). "This is not our business," he said. However, Dr Pravin Shengare, joint director of DMER, said that a committee had been formed under their supervision, but DMER was not the authority to take any action against the hospitals. "I don't remember offhand what the committee's report said. It was submitted to Health Secretary Sharvaree Gokhale to take action," he said.
Not me
But Gokhale had her own version to state. "Since the matter was related to H1N1, they had to inform me but I've no power to take action. DMER co-coordinated this investigation and the appropriate authority would be either them or the local municipal authorities as they are the ones who issue licences to hospitals," she said.
Not me, either
Local municipal authorities too passed the buck. Dr R R Pardeshi, health officer, PMC said, "No one informed us of the result and we can't take action". He added that two joint directors of DGHS Dr Ashok Mehta and Dr Uddhav Gawande were in-charge.
But Mehta said he had retired, while Gawande said he had never been involved with Reeda's case.
Meanwhile, Reeda's aunt Ayesha alleged, "No one is willing to take responsibility. This is obviously to protect the hospitals."
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