Man whose ambulance was hindered in peril

Mumbai: Doctors at a private hospital in Chembur are struggling to save the life of a 35-year-old man with brain tumour. Nilesh Sawant allegedly missed treatment during the ‘golden hours’ on Tuesday as the ambulance carrying him was stuck in traffic on the Eastern Expressway for 90 minutes in the protests after the Bhima-Koregaon violence in Pune. Nilesh was being shifted from the Shivaji hospital, Thane to KEM Hospital.

“KEM Hospital declined to admit him as the medicos were on strike that day,” said Nilesh’s father Chandrakant Sawant. The man’s father had paid '10, 000 to the ambulance driver to transport him.

Ajit More, driver of Sai ambulance said that they charged '10, 000 because it was a cardiac ambulance. “Usually, we decide the rate according to the kilometre. The rate is decided by the ambulance owner. In fact, we gave concession to Sawant,” More said.

KEM Hospital’s authorities refuted Mr Sawant’s claims.  Dean of KEM hospital Dr Avinash Supe said, “We all were working that day. It is impossible that some one could have been denied admission. It could be that there was no bed available that day.”  

Nilesh, who works for a private courier company, had an accident at his work place in Airoli. He had collapsed in the office bathroom. Mr Sawant said that the ambulance was stuck in traffic for more than 45 minutes at Eastern Express highway. “When we reached KEM, there the doctors were on strike. Nobody attended to my son. They made me run from pillar to post. Fed up, went to Rane hospital, Chembur.”

Dr Sandeep Rane from Chembur hospital said, “He was brought to us after a long journey. We stabilised him then started with the medical evaluation. He is suffering from brain tumour. His surgery will run into lakhs of rupees.” Sources from KEM hospital said that on Tuesday, a majority of the doctors were supporting the IMA strike.