Another hospital mishap in Kerala as concrete slab injures woman in Nedumangad

Nedumangad: A 21-year-old woman was injured on Thursday morning after a concrete slab collapsed at the Nedumangad district hospital. The injured has been identified as Noufiya Noushad of Riyas Manzil, Shantigiri Anandapuram. She had accompanied her grandfather, B Fasaluddin, who was at the hospital for treatment of back pain.

The incident occurred while they were waiting at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) outpatient section. Concrete pieces fell on Noufiya’s left arm and back, causing minor injuries.

Following the mishap, the PMR OP unit was shifted to the skin OP section. An X-ray showed no major complications. However, Noufiya said the scan had to be done outside since the hospital’s machine was not functioning. She added that though the hospital reimbursed ₹700 for the test, she had to purchase medicines from outside.

The incident adds to concerns over the state of public health infrastructure in Kerala. On July 3, a 56-year-old woman, Bindu, died after a building collapsed on the Kottayam Medical College Hospital campus. In September, a caregiver, Kochumol (50), was injured when a chunk of concrete fell from the ceiling of a ward in the same hospital.

According to a recent Health Department survey, 225 buildings across 134 government hospitals in Kerala — from primary health centres to district and general hospitals — have been found structurally unsafe and at risk of collapse.