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Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegde has instructed the officers of the Health and Family Welfare Department to ensure that snakebite cases are attended to without delay and also sought a report from the officers on recent incidents of negligence in handling such cases. Mr. Hegde held a meeting with the officers of the department in Shivamogga on Thursday. “There had been incidents of absence of doctors at health centres to handle snakebite cases. The officers should submit a report about such instances. Negligence of doctors in delivering their duties will not tolerated,” he stated. Referring to an incident at Matthur in Hosanagara taluk, where staff of the 108 ambulance service did not respond to a call regarding a snakebite case, the Deputy Commissioner directed the officers to register a case against the staff for negligence. Further, he also sought a report from the officers with regard to the death of a woman while delivering a baby in Shikaripur taluk. Mr. Hegde suggested that the officers make alternative arrangements if doctors at primary health centres go on leave. If any quacks were found treating snakebite cases, the officers should take proper action against them, the Deputy Commissioner said. District Health and Family Welfare officer Nataraj, District Surveillance Officer Nagaraj Naik, and others attended the meeting.
