Daijiworld Media Network – Dehradun
Dehradun, Aug 1: In a heart-wrenching case that has sparked public outrage, a one-year-old boy from Uttarakhand, Shivansh Joshi, son of an Indian Army officer, died allegedly due to medical negligence after being shuffled between five hospitals spanning four districts, covering nearly 180 kilometres, without receiving timely and adequate treatment.
The incident has prompted Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to order an official probe, promising strict action against any healthcare personnel found guilty of negligence.
The sequence of events began on July 10, when Shivansh developed symptoms of dehydration, including persistent vomiting and inability to breastfeed. His mother rushed him to the Public Health Centre (PHC) in Gwaldam, Chamoli district. However, due to the absence of a paediatrician and necessary medical facilities, the child was referred to Baijnath Community Health Centre in Bageshwar district, about 22 km away.
Despite receiving treatment there, the child's condition worsened, prompting another referral to Bageshwar District Hospital, located an additional 20 km away. It was here that the child’s father, Dinesh Chandra Joshi, alleged that the doctor on duty was preoccupied with his mobile phone, while nurses laughed and joked, ignoring the critical condition of the child.
"The doctor neither showed urgency nor examined my 14-month-old son properly. He simply referred him to Almora Medical College," Mr Joshi told NDTV.
The child reportedly suffered impeded blood flow to the brain, and in the absence of a paediatric ICU, was moved once again — this time to Almora Medical College, the fourth hospital in the chain.
The ordeal further worsened when the 108 emergency ambulance, called at 7 pm, took over two-and-a-half hours to arrive. The mother had to escalate the matter by contacting the District Magistrate before help arrived.
Despite receiving treatment at Almora, doctors referred Shivansh to Haldwani Medical College in Nainital, the fifth and final hospital. There, he was placed on a ventilator on July 12. Tragically, on July 16, he was declared dead.
"I want to ask everyone – what does ‘emergency’ mean if help doesn’t come in time? We lost our son because of this system," said Mr Joshi, devastated at not being able to save his child while serving the nation at the border in Jammu and Kashmir.
The boy’s mother, speaking through tears, added, "He was alive when we took him from Gwaldam to Baijnath to Bageshwar. We begged for help, but no one listened."
Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Dhami expressed grief and anger. "This is an unfortunate incident. It is our duty to provide the best health services. If anyone has neglected their responsibilities, strict action will follow," he said, confirming that a comprehensive inquiry has already been launched.
The incident has raised serious questions about emergency healthcare infrastructure and medical accountability in the hill state, especially in remote regions where timely intervention can mean the difference between life and death.