BABIYACHAUR: Sheer negligence on part of a pharmacy staff at Beni Hospital (Myagdi District Hospital) has been reported regarding distribution of medicines to a pregnant woman.

Health Worker at the pharmacy section gave a box containing albendazole tablets to Samiksha Khatri Kunwar of Setodhunga, Beni Municipality-5, who had visited the hospital for regular health check-up on November 20 last year.

The Kunwar family, only on February 6, came to know about the wrong medicine dispensed to Kunwar. Amidst fear of its negative impact on her health, she was immediately taken to the same health facility for further check-up.

The family had filed a complaint against the negligence at the hospital, District Administration Office, Myagdi and the Beni Municipality. They had demanded a probe into the case, compensation for the mistake, and action against the employee who had given the wrong medicine.

Kunwar is now seven-month pregnant, but she and her family are much worried about her health as well as the baby's.

Hospital Chief Dr Roshan Neupane has admitted to the error on part of the pharmacy staff while giving  out medicine to Kunwar. He, however, claimed that her ultrasound report is normal and the child also seems alright.

A pregnant woman needs a 90-day-course of albendazole in case of tape worms in her body, but her lab reports show that she had no such condition, according to Neupane.

The hospital has become ready to investigate into the case, take departmental action against the guilty, and guarantee free regular health check-up and delivery facility for Kunwar.

The hospital has signed an agreement in this regard with the family on Monday in the presence of local level representatives, as stated by the Hospital Management Committee Chair Madhav Prasad Regmi.