Rising snakebite exposes ICU shortage in Saptari hospitals

By Binay Karna, Kalyanpur (Saptari), July 28: As snakebite cases continue to rise in Saptari during the monsoon and summer seasons, the lack of an intensive care unit (ICU) at Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital has become a serious concern.

On Sunday night, a woman bitten by a venomous snake was referred to another hospital because ICU care was unavailable. She later died while undergoing treatment, triggering protests by her family members and raising serious questions about the capacity, infrastructure and emergency services of the government hospital.

Forty-year-old Kabita Yadav of Deuri Bhararuwa Tole, Rajbiraj Municipality-15, was bitten by a venomous snake at around 7 p.m. on Sunday. She was immediately admitted to Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital in Rajbiraj.

Doctors began treatment promptly, but as her condition failed to improve and the hospital lacked ICU facilities, she was referred to Biratnagar at around 8:30 p.m.

According to family members, Kabita developed severe breathing difficulties while being transported by ambulance. She was taken to Golden Hospital in Biratnagar, where doctors declared her dead shortly after treatment began, her brother Manoj Yadav said.

Following her death, relatives and local residents staged a protest at Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital from Monday morning onwards. They accused the hospital of medical negligence, delays in treatment and failing to provide essential facilities, including an ICU, resulting in the patient's death.

The bereaved family has demanded an impartial investigation into the incident, action against those found responsible, compensation for the family and the immediate establishment of ICU services at the hospital.

Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Birendra Mandal said the hospital had requested the local administration to form an investigation committee comprising specialist doctors from outside the district to examine the incident.

He said the absence of ICU facilities leaves the hospital with no option but to refer critically ill patients elsewhere. According to him, the hospital has repeatedly informed higher authorities about the need for ICU services and has been seeking the necessary support.

Following the protest, a tense situation developed at the hospital, prompting the deployment of a large number of police personnel to maintain security, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Hem Raj Ghimire of the District Police Office, Saptari.

Discussions between the hospital administration and the victim’s family are currently underway with the support of the local administration to reach an agreement.

Snakebite cases have increased significantly across Saptari with the onset of summer and the monsoon.

According to Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital, between four and seven snakebite patients seek treatment at the hospital each day.

Although most patients receive first aid and anti-venom treatment, those who develop respiratory complications or become critically ill require ventilator support and ICU care.

Doctors say that because the district's main government hospital lacks these facilities, critically ill patients must be referred to other hospitals, increasing the risk of death due to delays in treatment.

Kabita's death has not only left  the family in mourning but has also sparked wider debate about the condition of public healthcare services and the lack of emergency medical facilities in rural districts.

Locals say it is unfortunate that ICU services have still not been established despite snakebite cases recurring every year. They have urged the government to prioritise snakebite treatment by providing ICU facilities, ventilators and adequately trained healthcare personnel.

The incident, in which a life was lost because specialised treatment was not available in time, has prompted calls for the authorities to move beyond investigations and immediately expand the hospital's emergency healthcare infrastructure.