Infant Deaths: Bombay High Court Forms Committee To Examine Medical Infrastructure In Nanded, Sambhaji Nagar Govt Hospitals

In a suo moto PIL concerning deaths in government hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar districts of Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court has formed a 5-member committee to visit government hospitals in the districts and prepare a report on the infrastructure and medical facilities available at these hospitals.A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe & Justice MS Karnik directed the committee to suggest short-term and long-term measures to ensure that incidents of infant deaths do not happen in the future. In October 2023, the Court took suo motu cognizance of various newspaper reports highlighting a large number of deaths, including those of infants, at Government Hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar districts. The reports included the statements issued by doctors who suggested that the deaths had occurred due to a shortage of beds, doctors and essential medicines.In the previous hearing, the amicus curiae had submitted that the State Government has utilized the budget only to the extent of 66% for the creation of medical infrastructure in the State. The Court had orally questioned the State on why it was not utilizing the budget for developing medical infrastructure in the State.Today, during the hearing the State counsel submitted that affidavits have been filed by the Public Health Department, Maharashtra Public Service Commission, Medical Education & Drugs Department and Procurement Department on the issue. The Court remarked that to address the issue at hand, it would constitute a court-monitored committee. It thus appointed the committee consisting of Secretary of Medical Education & Health Services, Director of Health Services and medical education, Deans of Grant Government, JJ, Nanded and Sambhaji Nagar government medical colleges. It asked the committee to complete the exercise in 2 months. Furthermore, the amicus pointed out that not just rural hospitals, but even primary hospitals lack adequate facilities in the State. However, the Court orally remarked that such evaluation would take years to complete and that its focus presently is on government hospitals in Nanded and Sambhaji Nagar districts.The Court will next hear the matter on 16 June.Case title: Case title: High Court Of Judicature At Bombay On Its Own Motion vs. The State Of Maharashtra And Ors (SMPIL/1/2023) Click Here To Read/Download Order

Infant Deaths: Bombay High Court Forms Committee To Examine Medical Infrastructure In Nanded, Sambhaji Nagar Govt Hospitals

Sanjana Dadmi

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