Tribal Woman Denied Healthcare on International Women's Day

A pregnant tribal woman was allegedly denied admission at the Dahanu sub-district hospital in Palghar for childbirth on Sunday morning. This incident underscores the severe inadequacies in the health infrastructure of tribal regions just 100 kilometers from Mumbai.

According to Shobha Machhi, an anganwadi worker, the woman was initially brought to Dahanu Cottage Hospital. However, the hospital staff claimed a normal delivery was unfeasible, recommending her to seek services elsewhere. With ambulance services projected to take three hours, Machhi escorted her to two private hospitals. Finally, Shraddha Hospital admitted her after a lengthy wait. "A tribal woman paying private hospital fees is unjust," Machhi expressed.

Palghar's district surgeon, Dr. Ramdas Marad, has called for a comprehensive report from the hospital's superintendent regarding the incident. Preliminary findings suggest a contractual gynecologist was unavailable. The incident, occurring on International Women's Day, drew widespread attention. BJP Mahila Morcha president Chitra Wagh intends to address this issue with the state health minister. Activists like Jitu Patil, along with Jayesh Patil and Narendra Sutari, are advocating for accountability in the woman's predicament.