Bhubaneswar: At a time when medical services are made available at the doorstep, the death of an elderly person due to unavailability of ambulance at Pipalpada village under Laxmipur police station limits in Koraput district has raised serious concerns about the healthcare system.
According to reports, Lalu Mandinga of Pipalpada village died after waiting nearly five hours for an ambulance to transfer him from Laxmipur Community Health Centre to Koraput District Headquarters Hospital for advanced treatment.
Mandinga was attacked by miscreants over a dispute of just Rs 1,300, leaving him critically injured. His family members rushed him to Laxmipur Community Health Centre, where doctors advised immediate transfer to a better-equipped hospital. Despite repeated pleas, no ambulance was arranged, forcing doctors at Laxmipur to try and stabilize him. However, the delay proved fatal, and Mandinga succumbed to his injuries.
The family and villagers attributed the unavailability of ambulance for shifting the patient to the death of Madinga.
