Subscribe
Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
A 30-year-old woman in Hyderabad died on Tuesday, August 18, after allegedly receiving an injection from a Rural Medical Practitioner (RMP) in Karwan Vaddera Basti, prompting an inquiry by the Ranga Reddy district medical and health officer (DMHO).
The woman, identified as Srilatha, was a daily wage worker. She had developed a fever and consulted an RMP, identified as Ashok, in her locality on Friday, August 14. According to reports, Ashok examined her and administered an injection in her lower back before sending her home.
RMPs are not qualified to practise modern medicine independently and do not hold medical licences that permit them to prescribe modern drugs or perform medical procedures. Despite this, they remain widely relied upon for primary healthcare in several parts of Telangana.
On August 15, Srilatha developed swelling and severe pain in her legs. When her condition did not improve, she returned to Ashok on Monday, August 17. He subsequently took her to Zoi Hospital, where she was admitted for treatment.
Srilatha died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Following her death, residents of Vaddera Basti staged a protest outside Zoi Hospital, demanding justice and action against those they held responsible for her death. Protesters also raised slogans demanding action against doctors they alleged had been negligent.
According to a Times of India report, the Ranga Reddy DMHO has constituted an inquiry team to investigate the circumstances surrounding Srilatha’s death. The department has also issued a show-cause notice to Zoi Hospital as part of the probe.
Srilatha’s husband, Tirupathi, subsequently lodged a complaint at the Attapur police station. Police said her body had been sent for a post-mortem examination and that further action would be taken based on the findings.
The incident comes just over a week after a 16-year-old girl died in Khammam district after allegedly being administered injections by an RMP, identified as Maruthi Sampath.
The two deaths have renewed concerns among doctors’ organisations over the continued role of RMPs in providing medical treatment in Telangana. Doctors’ groups have previously urged the state government to take action against RMPs, arguing that they lack the qualifications required to practise modern medicine and should not be permitted to administer medical treatment.
