Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday expressed its displeasure over the high number of deaths in public hospitals run by the Maharashtra government in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts. The court said that the state cannot shirk its responsibility by citing a lack of manpower or an influx of critically ill patients from private hospitals.
The state government, in its affidavit, claimed that there was no gross negligence on the part of the public hospitals and that they had an adequate supply of medicines and equipment. It also said that most of the patients who died were referred from other hospitals in very serious condition and that the death rate was not unusual.
However, the court was not satisfied with the government’s explanation and asked what steps it was taking to improve the public health service. The court said that the government had good policies on paper but failed to implement them on the ground. The court also pointed out that the budget allocation for health had declined in the last three years in Maharashtra.
The court took suo motu cognizance of the death case after media reports revealed that 31 patients, including several infants, died at Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded within 48 hours from September 30, while 18 patients died at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Government Medical College and Hospital between October 1 and 2.
The government informed the court that it had formed a three-member committee to visit all the public hospitals and submit a report. The court asked the committee to submit its report by October 13 and posted the matter for further hearing on October 16.
