37 Die In 4 Days At Nanded Govt Hospital: Pigs And Dirt Seen On Site

After twenty-four deaths, including that of 12 children, were reported in 24 hours at a government hospital in Maharashtra, thirteen more patients have allegedly died. Here are more details around the rising death toll. 

The incident has caused massive outrage with several politicians reprimanding the incident. The deaths have been reported from Dr Shankar Rao Chavhan Medical Hospital in Nanded, Maharashtra. While the kins of patients have alleged medical negligence, the Dean of the hospital has come forward and addressed some of the allegations, as per reports.

As per a report by NDTV, the hospital premises give a clear picture of the claims made by people about the unhygienic conditions of the place. In a video released by NDTV, it can be seen how a certain section of the area, which is reportedly next to the canteen, is filled with dirt and has pigs roaming around throughout. Patients' kin can also be seen performing chores in the same area where pigs are roaming amid the trash. 

It is now reported that the police have filed a case against the dean of the hospital, Dr Shyamrao Wakode. The case is registered as culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Death Toll Rising At Nanded Government Hospital

The incident reminds us of severe mismanagement during the COVID-19 outbreak two years back. The Maharashtra government hospital has now made national headlines for medical negligence resulting in many deaths. 

As many as 24 deaths in 24 hours were reported from a state-run hospital of Nanded in Maharashtra. The death toll has now increased to 31 deaths including 16 infants and children in total. 

The dean of the hospital, Dr Shyamrao Wakode has blamed the shortage of medicines and staff and refused allegations of medical negligence. The Dean also claimed that the patients did not respond to the treatments despite being provided with proper care. 

The Dean explained the situation saying that the hospital purchases medicines from Haffkine Institute, however, that was not done so the hospital purchased medicines locally to provide to the patients. He also highlighted that the hospital is a territorial-level care centre in a radius of 70-80 km so the patients come from far-off places and, on some days when the number of patients rises, problems around the budget surface.

Refuting the claims of a shortage of medicines and funds, the hospital in a press conference said that all the essential medicines are available in the hospital and there are ₹12,000 crores in funds while the hospital has been approved of ₹4 crores fund this financial year. 

Director of Medical Education and Research in Maharashtra, Dr Dilip Mhaisekar said a three-member expert committee from Chattrapati Sambhajinagar has been formed to probe into the incident and submit a mandate report of the deaths by 1 pm on October 4. He also told the news agency PTI that he is personally visiting the hospital as well. 

Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde called the deaths "unfortunate" and said that action would be taken after seeking more information of what exactly happened in the hospital. 

The former Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavhan, after visiting the hospital, said that 24 lives have been lost and 70 people are yet in critical condition owing to a lack of medical staff and facilities. He said there are many non-functional machines at the unit and the replacements of several nurses who were transferred were still not provided. He also said that there are 1200 patients admitted to the hospital which has the capacity of 500 patients. 

This is not the first time medical negligence has resulted in mass deaths in Maharashtra as this comes two months after the Thane incident where 18 deaths were reported in 24 hours in August this year at Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa. 

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