Nanded Hospital Tragedy: Govt Says Every Death Will Probed as Toll Rise to 31 | What We Know So Far – News18

As many as 31 deaths, including 12 infants, were recorded at the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded in central Maharashtra in 48 hours since September 30.

Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, who visited the hospital on Tuesday, said the deaths will be inquired to establish the cause and promised things will improve at the facility in the next 15 days.

Dr Kishore Rathod, Head of Paediatrics Department told CNN News 18 that nothing went wrong in the hospital. “Critical patients were referred to hospitals. We have everything available for treatments,” he added.

Here’s What We Know So Far:

• Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has said that action will be taken against those found guilty in the incident.
• As per preliminary information, it has been found that there is no shortage of medicines in the hospital. There is adequate availability of doctors and staff. The deaths will be seriously investigated, according to the CMO.
• Deaths will be inquired to establish the cause, said Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif.
• Maharashtra Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Girish Mahajan said new people have been recruited and they will be posted within a week at the hospital. “I came here and took a look around the hospital, 3-4 months ago. There were a lot of complaints by people…Around 5500 people were recruited for class 3 and class 4 jobs…Within one week they’ll be posted,” he said.
• Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif said there is no issue of funding and it will be investigated why the hospital did not purchase on time. “The issue of housekeeping is very serious, we have taken that seriously… They still have Rs 4-5 crores. Why didn’t they purchase medicines? Our committee will give an answer…We will bring the medical college staff here…There is no issue of funding but why didn’t they purchase medicines on time, we will investigate this,” he said.
• Mushrif said if the deaths have occurred due to anyone’s negligence, action will be taken against that person.
• Mushrif said the hospital has a sanctioned bed strength of around 500, but nearly 1,000 patients were admitted in the facility and these included underweight babies in critical condition. “There was a sudden rise in the admission of patients as there were holidays and private health facilities were shut. The post of hospital dean will be filled immediately. The hospital is spread across a big area and it needs to be cleaned. We shall see if cleaning work can be outsourced,” he said.
• Former Maharashtra CM and Congress leader Ashok Chavan said it is a serious incident and the situation is also concerning. “Around 31 patients have lost their lives so far and out of those 15-16 were children so there are many reasons. This is a government medical college so the government needs to take a decision soon…,” he said.
• Police detained the NCP (Sharad Pawar Faction) workers for protesting outside the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Hospital on the visit of Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Girish Mahajan.(With PTI, ANI inputs)