Arabic professor dies after 6 hospitals refuse treatment
Relatives say Wali Akhtar, who taught at Delhi University, was denied a bed
Wali Akhtar Nadwi, a professor of Arabic at Delhi University, died on Tuesday after he was denied treatment at around six private hospitals in New Delhi and Noida, media has reported.
Akhtar had shown Covid-19 symptoms but the hospitals refused to admit him, his family alleged. Some of them said they don’t admit patients having fever and some said they don’t have a bed available.
Akhtar, who was sick for a week and had difficulty in breathing, couldn’t get a bed in the six private hospitals including Delhi’s Bansal Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, Moolchand Hospital and Kailash Hospital in Noida, his family said.
However, his colleagues admitted him to a private hospital in Jamia Nagar where he eventually died.
Marghoob Zaidi, public relations officer of Alshifa hospital, confirmed that Akhtar was admitted under the suspicion of Covid-19 infection as he had bilateral pneumonia. His test was conducted on Tuesday, but he died in the next few hours.
Prof Akhtar complained of breathlessness and chest pain on June 6. His elder brother Ali Akhtar said: “We took him to a prominent hospital in Noida. My brother was in pain, but the hospital refused him admission claiming lack
of beds.” The hospital denied the allegation.
“My ailing brother was shocked and disappointed at the treatment of the hospital more than his ailment as he was emotionally a weak person. He lost hope even before the beginning of the Covid-19 test process,” Jamil Akhtar, the younger brother of late Prof Wali Akhtar, told media.
Former president of the Delhi University Teachers Association, Dr Aditya Narayan Mishra, criticised health care authorities over Professor Akhtar’s death.