Maharashtra hospital deaths: Medicine procurement process must be decentralised, says Aaditya Thackeray

Aaditya Thackeray. File Pic

Maharashtra hospital deaths: The process of procuring medicines for state run hospitals must be decentralised and there is need to ensure the authority appointed to carry out this task does not work for anyone's "self interest," Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said on Monday, reported news agency PTI.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting the Government Medical College and Hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and interacting with the dean and other officials.

State-run hospitals in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), Nanded and Nagpur witnessed deaths of several patients in a short span after September 30, prompting the Shiv Sena (UBT) and other opposition parties to slam the Eknath Shinde government for alleged inefficiency and corruption.

"We will take up the issue (health infrastructure and patients' deaths) during the Assembly session. At the same time, there is need for decentralisation of medicine procurement. It should also be checked that the authority appointed for medicine procurement is not made for anyone's self-interest," Aaditya Thackeray said.

"I am travelling to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded and Nagpur to understand the situation in the government hospitals there. The doctors of these facilities were praised for their work during the COVID pandemic. Then what is the reason that such incidents (death of patients) are taking place," Aaditya Thackeray questioned.

Aaditya Thackeray said there was need to bring financial and administrative reforms in the way state-run hospitals are run.

"While doing this, deans of medical colleges must be consulted. But we cannot expect anything from a government that is still to visit Nanded (in connection with patients' deaths)," Aaditya Thackeray said.

Earlier today, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray expressed confidence that the people of five states, where the assembly polls are scheduled next month, will vote for peace, prosperity and progress assured by the I-N-D-I-A alliance.

The I-N-D-I-A alliance is a coalition of opposition parties that seek to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram will go to polls on different days from November 7-30 and votes will be counted for the five states on December 3, the Election Commission said on Monday, setting the stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Nearly 16 crore voters would be eligible to cast their votes in these elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said at a press conference in New Delhi.

(With inputs from PTI)