Woman dies after operation at Satkhira illegal clinic

The clinic was running business illegally, violating a closure order, given by Satkhira Civil Surgeon Abu Aziz Al Monsur in April this year because it did not have qualified doctors and required equipment, sources claimed.

Karima Khatun, 20, wife of Zinnat Ali of Gobindakati village in Satkhira Sadar upazila, was admitted to the clinic on Friday. The clinic is owned and run by a 'fake' doctor who uses degrees like MBBS and MD on his letter pad though he has no academic qualification, the sources claimed.

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After admission, Karima Khatun's husband was advised to have several tests done at the clinic. As her condition deteriorated at night, the 'fake' doctor advised her to undergo caesarian operation for childbirth.

A doctor of Kalaroa Upazila Health Complex operated upon her at night. A female baby was born but the mother died due to 'faulty' operation done by inappropriate equipment, her husband Zinnat Ali alleged while talking to this correspondent yesterday.

On contact, the doctor said he was called in when condition of the patient deteriorated at night.

"I operated upon her only to save her but in vain as it was too late", he said.

Allegations have it that private clinics in Kolaroa lure patients from the local Upazila Health complex through their agents deployed there.

The cheating is going on unabated but neither the health department nor the district administration has taken any step to stop this.

Some patients and their attendants also alleged that a section of doctors and hospital staffs also work in the interest of some private clinics.

When contacted, Dr. Rezwanul Haque of Kolaroa Upazila Health Complex said adequate measures have been taken to prevent agents from entering the hospital.

The Satkhira Civil Surgeon, when asked, told this correspondent that that he heard about death of a woman at a private clinic in Kolaroa. Action will be taken after investigation, he said.