X: @the_news_21
In a tragic turn of events in Delhi, a 46-year-old cancer patient, Puneet Sharma, succumbed to his illness after being denied admission by multiple hospitals. Puneet, hailing from Uttarakhand’s Kashipur, had travelled to Delhi with his wife Sapna and their four children in hopes of receiving treatment for his advanced tongue cancer. However, their ordeal began as they approached nine hospitals seeking admission, only to be turned away each time. Puneet’s cancer had already spread to other organs, exacerbating his condition.
Initially admitted to the Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) on March 16, Puneet was later referred to either AIIMS or GB Pant Hospital on March 28 due to the lack of intensive care facilities at DSCI. Despite their efforts, the family was allegedly denied admission at AIIMS on March 29, reportedly without even a medical examination. Sapna recounted pleading with the doctors at AIIMS, only to be told that the hospital lacked sufficient beds and ventilators, and they should try Safdarjung Hospital instead.
Their quest for medical assistance led them to Safdarjung Hospital and then to GB Pant Hospital, both of which turned them away citing similar reasons of bed and ventilator shortages. Even after involving the police for assistance, the hospitals remained steadfast in their denial of admission to Puneet.
Sapna’s relentless efforts, spanning nearly nine hours of pleading with hospital staff, ended in despair as they returned to DSCI on March 30. Tragically, Puneet breathed his last at around 5 am, marking the culmination of a harrowing journey that his family believes was marred by governmental neglect.
Sapna mourned her husband’s demise as an “institutional death,” attributing it to the negligence of the government. The incident highlights the grim reality faced by many patients and their families in India’s healthcare system, underscoring the urgent need for reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
A tragic tale unfolds in Delhi as a cancer patient, Puneet Sharma, dies after being turned away by nine hospitals due to lack of facilities. His journey for treatment with his family ended in despair, highlighting critical gaps in healthcare accessibility and the urgent need for systemic reform 🏥💔.