COVID-Positive Pregnant Woman Delivers Near Hospital Gate After Doctors Turn Her Away

A woman had to deliver her baby near the gates of a government hospital after doctors reportedly denied her admission as she was COVID positive. An investigation is on into the incident.

The pregnant woman approached a community health center in the Indian state of Telangana on Tuesday, reported The News Minute.

The woman, belonging to a tribal community in the Nagarkurnool district of Telangana, tested positive for COVID-19 at the hospital. Following this, the doctors decided to turn her away. They asked her to approach some other health center in the area.

Though her family kept pleading with doctors to admit her, citing her health condition, they did not relent. The hospital authorities also refused to provide her with ambulance services despite knowing that the woman was weak and in pain, the relatives alleged.

However, the woman could barely make it to the hospital's entrance when she went into labor. She collapsed near the hospital entrance and delivered the baby within minutes in the open area. Her relatives assisted her in delivery. Only after the baby came out did the doctors rush to help her. She was immediately admitted to the hospital. Reports added that both the mother and baby were in good condition.

However, the incident snowballed into a major controversy, following which the government decided to open an investigation into it. The state health department authorities immediately placed the duty doctor and medical officer on suspension. The officials also clarified that strict instructions have been given to all government hospitals not to turn away any COVID-positive patients.

This comes as another hospital in India was booked for denying treatment for a 64-year-old COVID-19 patient. According to the deceased patient's relatives, the hospital denied treatment after they refused to buy a Remdesivir injection offered by the hospital for ₹15,000 ($200) per shot. The family complained to health authorities, following which the hospital discharged the patient. The woman refused to readmit her even after she developed health complications. Reports said she later soon after.

India is currently battling the third wave of COVID cases as the country reported over 2,86,364 new cases till Wednesday. The daily positivity rate in the country has increased slightly to 19.59 percent, while the weekly positivity rate is now 17.75 percent.