Health Ministry investigates medical delay in child’s death
The Ministry of Health has begun an investigation in collaboration with relevant authorities into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ibrahim Azan Suhail, who passed away yesterday after complications linked to a prolonged delay in obtaining a critical medical device.
Azan, a child living with cerebral palsy, depended on a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tube for nutrition.
The tube, which is inserted into the abdomen, was essential for his daily feeding.
According to a statement shared by his mother on social media, a request for a replacement PEG tube had been submitted through the State Trading Organization (STO) in August last year.
However, despite repeated follow-ups, the device was not supplied for more than eight months.
This was the only means for this child to receive nourishment. Why has STO been unable to provide a definitive answer for this long? And for what reason would NSPA deem this an unapprovable item?
Azan's mother wrote on social media
She stated that inquiries made at the STO Hulhumalé Pharmacy were consistently met with responses indicating that approval from the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) had not been granted.
Reports indicate that by the time the replacement PEG tube was eventually made available, Azan’s condition had deteriorated significantly, making it no longer possible to proceed with the insertion.
The case has triggered widespread public concern and criticism, with many questioning delays in the approval and procurement of essential medical supplies and calling for accountability from the relevant authorities.
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