Thrissur: Tax officer dies due to denial of treatment

Thrissur: A sales tax officer from Ponnani, who met with an accident on July 9, died at Thrissur Medical College hospital allegedly after he was denied treatment in three private hospitals here. Vijayaragavan, 51, was first admitted to a hospital in Malappuram and shifted to Elite Mission Hospital at Koorkenchery in Thrissur. His relatives said that he was discharged on July 13 night citing the strike by nurses. He  was taken to  Elite on the morning of July 14 as he complained  of uneasiness.

The hospital authorities said that they could not admit him due to the  nurses’ strike. He was then taken to West Fort and Amala Hospitals in Thrissur, but  was denied treatment there as well. His condition deteriorated and he died after getting admitted to Thrissur Medical College on Sunday night, his relative told reporters  here. Both the three hospitals were yet to give an explanation on the matter.  United Nurses Association president Jasmin Shah said that on July 13 and 14,  there was no strike by nurses in the three hospitals. Jasmin Shah  alleged that the  private hospitals were rejecting patients to turn the public against the nurses’ associations.