Breathless man dies outside Hyderabad hospital

HYDERABAD: A man with suspected Covid-19 symptoms collapsed outside a private hospital and died on Wednesday afternoon, minutes after authorities re-directed him to a bigger hospital after administering oxygen for 10 minutes. Though he was not tested for the virus, he was later cremated as per the Covid-19 protocol.
A resident of Jawaharnagar area, the 31-year-old man was an employee in a private firm.He had been complaining of fever for the past 10 days and was rushed to the private hospital in ECIL Road with breathlessness.
A video of the collapsed patient, his mother and wife outside the hospital was shared widely on social media, evoking angry responses.
Sister: No one from hosp emergency helped us
We called an auto to take him to KIMS after this hospital said the ambulance was not available. No one from the hospital emergency helped us either,” said her sister.
He is survived by his wife, mother, and a nine-month-old baby.
The hospital in question has not been taking in any suspected or confirmed Covid-19 patients but did give him oxygen, health department sources said.
“All suspected cases were being redirected to the government hospitals, but they did not arrange any vehicle for him,” the official said.
Jawaharnagar police confirmed that he had gone to the private hospital after he developed chest pain on Wednesday.
“The hospital did refer him to another hospital. But he collapsed while waiting for an auto. The incident occurred at ECIL road,” said SHO Dikshapati Rao.