Authority to investigate into ‘hospital rejecting critical patient’ incident

The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) yesterday said that it has launched a probe into the case, in which a critical patient was allegedly turned away by a private hospital in Sanad.

NHRA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mariam Al Jalahma said the authority is closely following up on the case after going through the news report.

“The authority will take action in accordance with the regulations both against the medical institution as well as professionals involved,” Dr Al Jalahma said. An Asian expatriate, who suffered a cardiac arrest, died after being reportedly turned away from a private hospital in Sanad, on Sunday.

The man, in his early forties, died on way to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), according to friends and relatives. “We rushed him to the private hospital immediately after he suffered severe chest pain. But the hospital did not admit him, directing us to take the patient to SMC or BDF Hospital,” a close relative of the deceased, said.

“The doctors at SMC could not do much as he died on way to SMC.” Many discussed the matter on social media, demanding strict action against the private hospital, which refused to admit a patient in a critical stage. “Hospitals are meant to serve human beings. Here is a hospital, which does inhuman service,” a friend of the deceased, opined.

The deceased, who hailed from the Indian state of Kerala, was working with a private firm in the Kingdom. His body was flown home on Monday.