When questioned regarding death of a minor due to state negligence, Minister says the matter is not appropriate for public discussion in media
The Health Minister has stated that the details surrounding the death of a child with cerebral palsy, who reportedly passed away while waiting for a necessary feeding tube, are not appropriate for public media discussion. When questioned about potential negligence in the case, the Minister noted that while it is difficult to disclose the specific causes of a patient's death to the media, the relevant information has been shared directly with the family.
Minister of Health Dr. Abdulla Nazim. | Health Ministry | Health Ministry
Health Minister Dr. Abdulla Nazim has stated that the death of a six-year-old child with cerebral palsy, who reportedly passed away before receiving adequate medical treatment, is not a matter that should be discussed in the media.
During a press conference held on Thursday, RaajjeTV questioned whether any parties had been identified as negligent in the matter and if any action had been taken to date. In response, the Minister stated that it is not feasible to attribute the incident to a specific cause, noting that disclosing such details to the media remains a challenge.
However, the Minister stated that the relevant information has been shared with the family. He further assured that measures will be taken to address and rectify the issues identified within healthcare facilities.
The Minister further stated that providing detailed information on the matter was not appropriate for a forum of this nature.
It is extremely difficult for us to definitively state in the media the exact cause of a person's passing. It is not standard practice to attribute such an event to a specific cause or to claim that it occurred due to a particular circumstance. Therefore, we do not typically disclose to the media that a patient's death was the result of a specific incident or factor.Minister of Health Dr. Abdulla Nazim
Prior to Azaan’s passing, his mother took to social media to highlight her desperate struggle to obtain a necessary feeding tube for him. Despite her eight-month effort to secure this basic medical supply for her son, neither STO, the Ministry of Health, nor any other relevant authority provided the assistance required.
Information has been received that these tubes are currently unavailable at the government’s primary healthcare facility, IGMH, due to a total stock depletion. Other pharmacies are also reportedly out of stock. While these tubes were previously available through STO pharmacies via prescription, concerns have been raised regarding pricing. Some parties have complained that the tubes, which are available in India for approximately $100, were being sold locally for as much as 13,000 Maldivian Rufiyaa.
However, the child passed away while the STO pharmacy delayed providing the feeding tube, as NSPA had reportedly refused to authorize the procurement.
