The patients and their families held protests at the Vijayawada's Old Government hospital after a baby died.
The patients and their families held protests at the Vijayawada's Old Government hospital on Tuesday after a baby died, allegedly after being bitten by ants.
The doctors at the hospital have denied the possibility, saying there was no question of ants being there at the Intensive Care Unit, where the baby, prematurely born, had been kept. The baby boy, who died on May 2, was born four days ago.
"The baby expired due to prematurity and pulmonary haemorrhage," said Dr Ramesh, the superintendent of the hospital.
The family has argued that there were ant bites on the baby's body. Photographs showed the baby's abdomen covered with small scars. The last rites of the baby have been conducted. There was no postmortem.
The protesters have pointed out that there have been instances when rats have been detected at the ICU of Guntur government hospital.
Accusing the doctors of negligence, local Congress leader Malladi Vishu said, "There are no proper facilities here, even though many men and women come from remote areas to this hospital."