PIH vows to save lives

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thuresday 12th January 2012

BySHIRLYN BELDEN
THE Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby will “never stop giving medical treatment to save lives”, it says in a statement.
The hospital was responding to allegations circulated in the electronic mail in the past few days that a 10-year-old boy lost his life due to a lack of professionalism and immediate treatment by the staff at its emergency ward.   
The hospital confirmed that a young patient was attended to immediately when he was brought into the emergency unit on Jan 3 but died hours later when he was referred to the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) because he was critically ill.
The hospital says the boy had been suffering from abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea for four days before he was brought to the hospital by his mother.
It  pointed out that such condition carried a high mortality rate if the patient was referred late for medical attention.
According to the circulated allegations, the patient (named), 10, died because the PIH was demanding expensive medical fees from his mother and could not treat him as an emergency case. 
The allegations say the boy was coughing blood while his mother tried to settle with the hospital demand for a treatment fee.
However, the PIH clarified that:
lThe patient arrived at the PIH at 12.30pm and not 9.30am as alleged. He was presented to the hospital with a four-day history of abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea and not right after the child complained of being sick;
lThe patient was treated immediately upon arrival by doctors trying to locate the vein for intravanal treatment. After locating it he was given antibiotic and appropriate fluid which revived and stabilised him. Due care was given to him although the emergency ward was busy;
lPIH never demanded for treatment fee as alleged because it was a life-saving emergency case. PIH had no knowledge of the father’s attempts of transferring funds for admission and further treatment as alleged; and
lThe patient was officially referred to the PMGH and was never rushed as alleged. He was brought there on the PIH ambulance with a nurse escort.
The hospital says it is a private-run institute and meets its own expenses and all workers are constantly under supervision and not as claimed of mistreating patients in the light of getting money rather than giving service.