IMH sends 5 inmates for check-up at RGGGH, 4 already hospitalised

Four IMH inmates have died in ten days and three of them had died after being admitted to RGGGH. Although hospital authorities said that there was no common reason behind their deaths, six inmates had common symptoms of vomiting, dehydration, drowsiness and low blood pressure due to septic shock.

After the deaths, IMH has begun to send its inmates for a regular check-up at RGGGH as a precautionary measure. “It is a routine practice to send inmates for check-up, but due to the recent spate of unexplained deaths, we have been sending inmates for a check-up as soon as they show signs of any illness no matter how mild. even if they have mild symptoms of any illness,” said Dr Poorna Chandrika, director of Institute of Mental Health.

“We do not want any inmates to develop any complications later. The admitted patients are stable and five more inmates were sent for check-up to RGGGH,” she added.

IMH lacks basic facilities for medical treatment of inmates at the institute itself and hence authorities refer the patients to RGGGH for check-up and treatment. Now, however, the institute has been planning to set up an emergency unit with a full-time physician.