Mumbai: Malad doctor dies of COVID-19 after hospital refuses admission

Dr Shaukat Ali

Dr Shaukat Ali, a 45-year-old doctor who was posted at Malad railway station died of COVID-19 on Sunday. Despite being a frontline warrior, Ali-s family ran from pillar to post to get him hospitalised in either a private or government hospital, to no avail.

After serving as a doctor emergency service in the 108 ambulances for more than four years, Dr. Shaukat left that job, was currently working for the Emergency Medical Services Providing Company "Ruby Ali Care private limited" the company has contact, providing medical emergency services at various railway station, Dr Shaukat was posted at Malad railway station by the company. A few days ago, he got his blood tests done after his health deteriorated. The result stated typhoid fever following which he started getting treatment at home in Malwani.

"On Friday, his condition worsened and he started feeling breathless. Despite us calling the 108 ambulance service, no one picked up the call. So after waiting for a while, I and uncle-s colleague, Dr Nigam, rushed him to SK Patil hospital in Malad East in an auto. But they refused us stating they were admitting only COVID-19 patients. Then we took him to Desai Hospital, where doctors were initially ready to admit him but later refused stating lack of beds. They said we could take him home as his condition was fine," Zubair Shaikh, Ali-s nephew said.

"But his condition worsened. So, I called Dr Nigam and we managed to admit him in Shatabdi hospital. On Sunday, when his results came out stating that he had COVID-19, doctors had already put him on a ventilator, where he passed away in the evening," he added.

Zubair further said, "Had the doctors at Desai Memorial Hospital admitted him, my uncle would have been alive today. It is a matter of great regret that a doctor who was risking his life during this pandemic, could not get help from his own government hospitals."

Ali-s wife and his two children-s are in UP, while he was staying with his elder daughter who had recently appeared for HSC exams and preparing for NEET.

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