Patient Dies Due to Unavailability of Ambulance at Sukna Block PHC; Allegations of Medical Negligence Surface

 

Kalimpong KhabarNews May 20:

A tragic incident unfolded at the Sukna Block Primary Health Centre in Darjeeling district, where a patient succumbed to illness allegedly due to the unavailability of an ambulance. The incident has sparked serious allegations of medical negligence and inadequate health infrastructure at the facility.

The deceased, a patient with a medical history of Parkinson’s disease, was admitted to the hospital on the morning of May 19, 2025, after suffering from severe diarrhoea. Hospital authorities reportedly referred the patient to another hospital for further treatment. However, according to family members, they were made to wait for nearly 3 to 4 hours as the hospital failed to arrange an ambulance.

Hospital officials claimed the delay was due to available ambulance being sent for maintenance. During this time, the patient’s condition deteriorated, and he eventually passed away. The patient’s sister, Mamta Chettri, has strongly alleged that her brother died due to the negligence of the hospital authorities in failing to provide timely medical transport.

The incident has drawn criticism from local residents as well. Ajay Sharma, a resident of Sukna, stated that the medical facilities at the health centre are poorly managed, leaving the public to bear the consequences. He urged the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief to take immediate action and address the issue.

In response to the incident, GTA Sabhasad Kalpana Pradhan stated that she was previously unaware of the ambulance shortage at the Sukna health centre. She assured that she would ask Arun Sigchi GTA Sabhasad to arrange a backup ambulance for future at the earliest possible.

This report is based on News Report published  by The Himal World.