A 42 years old police constable died of 40% burns in Mumbai’s Masina Hospital. Masina’s burns department has an excellent reputation. It was reported that the constable did not respond to the treatment because he was diabetic. It is obvious that his diabetes was either undiagnosed or uncontrolled. This speaks volumes for the inadequacy of our health care system. A young member of the police force, undoubtedly a very important section of government work force has been living with an unmanaged health condition which contributed to his death. The young auto-driver who sprinkled petrol on him and set him ablaze will be tried and punished. However it will help the system a great deal if certain questions are raised and answered. Surely doctors will debate among themselves whether this man with 40% burns could have been saved but for his diabetic condition. However there are questions which the government’s healthcare system should answer. Wasn’t the constable’s diabetes diagnosed? If not, why not? Isn’t the police force subjected to regular health check-up which would include a simple blood test for sugar at regular intervals? If his diabetes was diagnosed, why was it not controlled?
Dr Mookhi Amir Ali
Mumbai, M.S.