Father carries ailing child in arms for ECG in Bihar

A day after a woman — who was operated under torchlight in Bihar — succumbed to her injuries, an ailing child was forced to be carried on his father's arms for an electrocardiogram, allegedly due to lack of availability of an ambulance or stretcher at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey has ordered a probe into the incident.

Citing that the hospital has wheelchairs, stretchers and other facilities for the patients, he said that stern action will be taken against anyone found guilty in the matter.

A source in PMCH said the child was admitted to the hospital's paediatric ward on Thursday. "He was advised an electrocardiogram, which is done in the cardiology department. However, as there was no ambulance or stretcher, the child was carried by his father while the oxygen cylinder was held by two relatives," he said.

The incident gave the Opposition some ammo to attack the government and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said, "No Ambulance, No Stretcher..That's the deadly condition of health services in BJP-led Nitish government.