Perimili PHC med officer’s contract terminated over death of four-yr-old

Nagpur: The administration has terminated the medical officer (MO) of Perimili primary health centre (PHC) over the death of four-year-old Aryan Talande, who had to be driven to another hospital by a state transport bus driver and conductor.
Dr Snehal Meshram, the MO of Perimili PHC, was blacklisted by the zilla parishad administration after her contract was terminated following an inquiry, which considered her reply to a show-cause notice unsatisfactory.

ZP chief executive officer (CEO) Ayushi Singh held Dr Meshram responsible for not making adequate arrangements for the ailing boy, or ensuring precautions, which caused his death. She would not be able to return as MO in future too as she has been blacklisted.
The TOI had highlighted how driver Gaurav Amle and conductor Milan Gavai of a Nagpur-bound ST bus had taken a detour to deliver the convulsing Aryan to Alapalli PHC in an attempt to save the boy. Aryan, though, died before getting medical help.
Aryan’s family had brought him from Karoli village to Perimili PHC amid heavy rains on bike, even stopping in between to massage him as his body had turned cold. Later, the bike sprang a puncture, and the boy was taken to the PHC on foot. Dr Meshram at Perimili PHC referred Aryan to Aheri rural hospital, around 30km away, but could not provide an ambulance parked at her premises, as the driver had been allowed to go on leave without ensuring a replacement driver.
Aryan’s family had then boarded the ST bus from Perimili. ZP CEO Ayushi Singh said the MO should have first ensured a replacement for the regular ambulance driver, before allowing the leave. “If the MO cannot provide ambulance, then a private vehicle has to be arranged or adequate assistance provided for safe and secure transfer of patient referred to another medical unit. One cannot just allow a serious patient to leave the PHC on their own and leave him or her at the mercy of public transport,” said Singh.
She said the standard operating procedure demands display of names and mobile numbers of PHC staffers at a prominent place, apart from ensuring their presence at the post until permission is granted, with due alternate arrangements made for someone else to carry on the work round-the-clock.
Members of the Tiger Group of Alapalli reportedly met Union minister Nitin Gadkari about the inadequate health infrastructure in remote and Maoist-affected Gadchiroli, apart from lack of ambulance services.