NHRC issues notice to Rajasthan Govt over death of 80 infants at Banswara

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about the deaths of more than 80 infants/children at a government-run hospital in Banswara district  of Rajasthan during the last two months. It has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks along with the steps taken and proposed to be taken to improve the conditions at the hospital.

The Chief Secretary has also been asked to inform whether any instructions in the recent past have been issued to the hospitals and other Medical Care institutions sensitizing them to be attentive and careful to prevent such tragic deaths due to any human error/negligence, according to an NHRC release.

Taking serious exception to the reported poor facilities and upkeep of the hospital,  the Commission has observed that the negligence on the part of the hospital authorities amounts to violation of right to life of the poor victims.  Many such cases from various parts of the country have come to the notice of the Commission, wherein a large number of human lives are lost due to the lack of infrastructure and callous attitude of the doctors/officers at the government run hospitals, according to the NHRC release.

According to the media report carried on September 5, 2017, the ‘Labour Room’ of the hospital was not properly sterilized and even the towels being used were found to be dirty.  There was no proper sanitation in the Labour Room.  The pregnant women were found to be underweight and proper consultation regarding appropriate diet was not being provided to them by the hospital. They delivered babies at pre-mature stage and the infants suffered lung diseases leading to their deaths. The state government has reportedly suspended the Chief Medical Officer, Gynaecologist and the Block Medical Officer.  Apart from this, 6 doctors have been issued show cause notices and 6 others have been removed from the service.