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New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about the death of four newborns at the government-run Ambedkar Hospital at Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on August 20, 2017, night, allegedly due to disruption in the supply of oxygen. Police have arrested the oxygen plant operator, who was found drunk on duty. A notice has been issued to the Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.
The NHRC has observed that hardly two weeks back, in a similar reported incident, about 60 infants and children had died at the BRD Hospital, Gorakhpur, UP. In both the cases, human error and negligence, reportedly, became the cause of deaths. It seems that nothing has been learnt from that tragedy. A death whether of an infant, child or of a grown up person, causes irrevocable loss to the families. No probe, amount of monetary relief and punishment to the culprits can compensate the loss of a human life, according to an NHRC release.
The NHRC is of the opinion that the suitable effective measures were required to be taken to address such problems. There is a need for issuance of suitable instructions to all the government run and private hospitals to ensure that such lapses do not occur. Accordingly, the Commission has directed the Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to take up the matter with every State and Union Territory to check such distressing incidents. The response from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is expected within four weeks.