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Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Kin of girl who contracted HIV during blood transfusion being compensated, state govt tells Kerala high court
Kochi: The state govt has informed high court that an order has been issued sanctioning appropriate financial aid to the father of a nine-year-old girl who allegedly contracted HIV during a blood transfusion at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram, and died in 2018. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Health and family welfare additional chief secretary Rajan Khobragade submitted in an affidavit that necessary instructions had also been issued to the revenue (disaster relief fund) department to take further steps for disbursing the financial assistance from the chief minister's disaster relief fund (CMDRF) on an urgent basis, vide order dated May 12. The affidavit was filed in response to a petition submitted by the girl's father, seeking adequate financial aid to help the family cope with the mental trauma caused by the child's untimely death and to relieve the financial burden from prolonged medical treatment. The girl, initially suspected to be suffering from leukaemia, was treated at the Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha, and later referred to RCC. She underwent 49 blood transfusions during her treatment. According to the petitioner, one of the blood donors was later found to be HIV-positive. He alleged that his daughter, who was HIV-negative at the start of treatment, contracted the infection during her treatment at RCC. However, the affidavit stated that RCC was of the considered view that the child and her family were provided full medical, psycho-social and emotional support throughout the unfortunate episode and that no lapses could be attributed to the RCC. The RCC had not recommended compensation, contending that the cause of death was not HIV infection. It was also submitted that RCC does not maintain any funds for compensating deaths or accidents arising from contingent events linked to the institution. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The affidavit also included technical details regarding the current blood testing equipment used at RCC, highlighting the advancements in technology, including the make, model, and its superiority over the equipment in use at the relevant time.
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Cath lab inauguration at RCC without Minister Veena George's knowledge, orders probe
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George has ordered an inquiry into an incident in which the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) Director Dr Rekha A Nair inaugurated a new cath lab facility without the minister's knowledge. The probe will be led by Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajan Khobragade, with a report expected within a week. The incident, which unfolded on Thursday, triggered dramatic scenes at the RCC. Despite a directive from the minister's office to defer the event, Dr Rekha went ahead with the inauguration at 9.30 am instead of the scheduled time at 10.30 am. The Left employees' union, which has been at odds with the director, removed the inauguration plaque bearing her name. Union members alleged that Dr Rekha was keen on placing the slab with her name before her retirement and she had hastened the event by an hour to prevent intervention by the minister's office. Later, the minister said she was unaware of the inauguration and it was unusual to conduct such informal inaugurations. The director said the facility was opened for the benefit of the patients. The director took the initiative to set up the lab at a cost of Rs 12 crore. The controversy comes at a time when a search committee has been formed to find a new director to replace Dr Rekha.
