Sunderbans: An ayurveda practitioner functioning as a "gynaecologist" at a community delivery centre has been accused of causing a newborn baby's death and endangering the mother's life by bungling basic procedures and refusing to refer the patient to a hospital until it was too late.

Manju Gaunia had been visiting the Swarnalata Sabuj Seva Sadan's Island Unit I, a community delivery centre at Patharpratima block, throughout her pregnancy and following the advice of the ayurveda practitioner who she believed was a qualified gynaecologist, according to a complaint received by the regulatory commission for private health care.

"We had little doubt about his credentials because the local ASHA health workers had recommended him as a gynaecologist," said Arun Das, a relative of 22-year-old Manju.

When Manju went into labour one morning last July, her family took her to the community centre and admitted her to the emergency unit on the advice of the man who had been monitoring her pregnancy all along.

"At 8am, she was examined by the ayurveda practitioner and he said that the baby was due any moment," Arun alleged.

Manju remained in labour till 7pm, according to her family.

"Injections were given and she was put on drip without the supervision of an MBBS doctor or even a trained nurse," Arun said. "We made repeated requests that she be referred elsewhere, but the ayurveda practitioner would not listen. It was only after 7pm that she was referred to Diamond Harbour District Hospital."

The delivery took place at the hospital but the newborn baby survived only seven hours in the neo-natal care unit. Manju's condition turned critical and she needed blood transfusion, the family said.

Anshuman Das, the secretary of Swarnalekha Sabuj Seva Sadan, contested the allegation that Manju had been treated by an ayurveda practitioner masquerading as a gynaecologist.

"The ayurveda doctor was treating the woman under the supervision of an MBBS doctor. Besides, he is someone who has done a four-year course in ayurveda and also a six-month internship at MR Bangur Hospital in several fields of allopathic treatment, including obstetrics and gynaecology."

He also pointed out that in the remote areas of the Sunderbans, most childbirths are at home under the supervision of untrained midwives. "Delivery centres like the one run by us are making institutional delivery a success."

A section of health department officials said the challenge was to monitor Ayush practitioners - ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy - who operate in health centres after doing the recommended bridge course.