Committee of doctors will thoroughly investigate: Maharashtra govt on 24 hospital deaths

File Photo/PTI

Minister of Medical Education of Maharashtra, Hasan Mushrif, has expressed his deep concern over 24 patients who have lost their lives at Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Medical College and Hospital in Nanded.

He said the government will carry out a detailed investigation into the incident. "We will carry out a thorough investigation. I have briefed Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis regarding the same. I will visit the hospital, and a committee of doctors will be formed."

This incident has put the spotlight on the healthcare system in Maharashtra, drawing strong comments from various political figures. Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut lamented, "... The health condition of Maharashtra has always been on the better side, but for the last year, in a way all the government departments of Maharashtra are working, neither the Health Minister is concerned, nor the doctors are working, and no one has any control. The health department is the most neglected department in Maharashtra."

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Congress leader Atul Londhe Patil also criticized the state government, highlighting additional concerns. "12 more newborn babies have died in Nanded hospital as per today's information. Now, the total number of deaths is 24. This is only because of the lack of management and governance on the part of the present Government in the state. This government is mostly involved in creating events and managing headlines. Recently, they have started a new hospital to which half of the staff from Nander has been transferred. There is no annual maintenance contract for MRI machines. There is a lack of medical equipment in the hospital, a lack of medicines, and doctors. So, the present government in the state is solely responsible for this incident."

Amid the outrage among the Opposition over the deaths, Shyamrao Wakode, the Dean of Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital Nanded, rejected allegations of negligence against the hospital on Tuesday, claiming that deceased patients were suffering from different ailments such as diabetes, liver failure, and kidney failure.

He emphasized that there was no shortage of medicines or doctors, and the patients were given proper care, but their bodies did not respond to the treatment. He also outlined that some of the patients were suffering from arsenic and phosphorus poisoning, snake bites etc.