Varun Gandhi, MP from Pilibhit, has written to Brajesh Pathak, UP’s deputy chief minister who also holds the health portfolio, requesting a re-evaluation of the decision to revoke the license of the Sanjay Gandhi hospital. The hospital is located in Munshiganj (Amethi).
Gandhi, in his letter, stated that the foundation of the hospital named after his father, was laid by his grandmother late Indira Gandhi in 1982.
“For the past many years the hospital has been providing excellent care in cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, general surgery and gynecology…the revocation of the license will have far reaching effects on healthcare, livelihood and education”, Gandhi wrote.
On September 18, an order to seal the hospital was issued. On September 21, the employees’ union had written a letter to state’s Governor, the chief minister, and the district magistrate of Amethi. The letter had drawn attention to the fact that sudden closure of the hospital had led to a crisis not just for their children’s education but also for day-to-day necessities. The letter urged that ongoing treatment in the hospital had been adversely impacted.
Gandhi took the issue up in his letter pointing out that the 450 employees and the thousands of others associated with the hospital had been deeply impacted by the hospital’s closure. He also wrote about the negative impact on the 600 nurses and 200 paramedical staff which the hospital trained every year.
On September 14, a woman who was administered anesthesia before surgery and had died.
Pathak had then said, “The death of a young daughter is extremely said. The decision has been taken after a local inquiry. We are regularising all hospitals across the state…we will not spare any hospital that knowingly pushes a patient into the mouth of death”.
Both Gandhi and the employees’ union has insisted that strict action be taken against those who are responsible for the death of the patient but shutting down the entire hospital makes no sense.
“I urge you to conduct an unbiased inquiry…this will give priority to justice, impartiality…and to those who come to the hospital for care’ reads Gandhi’s letter.