Kupwara, April 18: A medical officer engaged under National Health Mission (NHM) on Thursday was terminated for not “providing ambulance” to a pregnant woman whose new born died while delivering him in a moving vehicle on Saturday last week in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
“The contractual services of Dr Bilal Ahmad Medical Officer under NHM presently posted at Primary Health Centre Kalaroos are hereby terminated with immediate effect for denying as ambulance service to a patient leading to loss of precious time in providing medical care to the pregnant lady which tantamount the gross negligence on part of yourself towards your professional duties,” read an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, who is also chairman district health society Kupwara.
The order reads that the doctor has failed to uphold moral, ethical and professional standards in service delivery which led to the death of a new born baby as confirmed by enquiry committee and corroborated by the CMO Kupwara
“On the recommendations of the CMO Kupwara and enquiry committee the contractual services of Dr Bilal Ahmad have been terminated with immediate effect,” read the order.
Fatima Begum, wife of Mohd Shafi Kohli resident of Daming Kalaroos, had delivered in a private vehicle after she was allegedly denied ambulance by the doctor who had referred her to Kupwara for specialised treatment. Agencies