Allegations of medical negligence have surfaced once again in North Tripura following the death of a newborn after a pregnant woman was allegedly referred from one hospital to another without timely specialist intervention.
The incident has triggered widespread concern across the district, with serious questions being raised over the emergency maternity services at Dharmanagar District Hospital, particularly the availability of emergency caesarean facilities and specialist gynecologists’ during night hours.
According to the family, a pregnant woman from Chandrapur in Dharmanagar began leaking amniotic fluid on the night of July 30 last. Alarmed by her condition, relatives rushed her to Dharmanagar District Hospital, where the attending doctor initially sent her to the normal delivery ward. The family alleged that after being examined by the staff on duty, they were informed that a normal delivery would not be possible.
The family claimed that despite informing the attending doctor of the situation, the woman was referred to Kailashahar District Hospital instead of being treated at Dharmanagar. They further alleged that they repeatedly requested the doctor to call the hospital's on-duty gynecologist for an emergency consultation, but the request was refused. According to the family, they were told that it was not possible to summon the specialist during the night.
With the woman's condition worsening as the amniotic fluid continued to leak, the family immediately shifted her to Kailashahar District Hospital. They alleged that preparations for an emergency caesarean section were initially made there. However, after further medical examinations reportedly revealed complications, doctors referred her once again to GB Hospital in Agartala during the same night.
The family said the woman had to endure the long journey to Agartala in a deteriorating condition. She was eventually admitted to GB Hospital in the early hours of the following morning, where she delivered a stillborn baby through normal delivery shortly after reaching the hospital.
Following the incident, the bereaved family accused Dharmanagar District Hospital of failing to provide timely emergency care. They alleged that had the attending doctor called the duty gynecologist and arranged an emergency caesarean section at Dharmanagar itself, the baby might have survived.
"If proper treatment had been provided in time, we might not have lost our child. Our only question is why the duty gynecologist was not called despite being available," a family member alleged.
The incident has also reignited concerns over the preparedness of emergency obstetric services at Dharmanagar District Hospital. Local residents have questioned whether the district hospital is adequately equipped to handle emergency caesarean deliveries during night hours and whether specialist doctors are readily available in cases of obstetric emergencies.
Residents further alleged that repeated referrals after the woman's water had already broken significantly delayed treatment and placed both the mother and the unborn child at serious risk. They claimed the mother's life could also have been endangered due to the delay.
Meanwhile, the family has reportedly submitted a written complaint to the Director of Health Services, alleging negligence by the attending doctor for failing to summon the on-duty gynecologist. They have demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and appropriate action against those found responsible.
The family also urged the Health Department to strengthen emergency maternity services at Dharmanagar District Hospital to ensure that no other expectant mother or newborn suffers due to the lack of timely specialist care.
The people of North Tripura are now awaiting the Health Department's response and whether a formal inquiry will be initiated into the allegations.