Two Doctors’ Salaries Withheld Over Unnecessary Referral in Bandipora Hospital

Suhail Rather

Bandipora, Aug 11: The Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Bandipora has ordered the withholding of salaries of two doctors after preliminary findings pointed to lapses in a case involving the alleged unnecessary referral of a woman in labour.

In an order (No. DHB/25-26/638-643) assessed by Kashmir Convener, issued on Monday, the salaries of Consultant (OB & G), and Medical Officer, have been withheld as a temporary administrative measure until the conclusion of the ongoing inquiry or further instructions.

The action follows an earlier order (No. DHB/25-26/606-610) dated August 7, which constituted an inquiry into the incident.

The move came from a complaint lodged by Mohd. Hussain Bhat, a resident of Dachigam, who alleged that his wife, admitted for delivery on August 7, was referred out of the hospital without valid reason.

In his letter to the Medical Superintendent, Bhat claimed that staff members behaved rudely and one doctor allegedly remarked, “Her delivery can happen even in the car.”

According to the complaint, the woman ended up delivering her baby on the road near Hajin, around 10 kilometres from the hospital, while the family was seeking help. She was later shifted to Hajin Hospital for post-delivery care.

Hospital authorities said the salary withholding is an interim measure pending the outcome of the probe to determine responsibility for the alleged unnecessary referral and the circumstances that led to the roadside delivery.