The Maharashtra government has ordered a probe after 31 patients, including 16 children, died at the state-run Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded in the last 48 hours.
Dr Shyamrao Wakode, the dean of the hospital, has rejected allegations of medical negligence. He has also said that there was no shortage of medicines or doctors, and stressed that the patients did not respond to treatment despite being given proper care, NDTV reported.
This is the second instance of a state-run hospital in Maharashtra reporting a high number of deaths in a single day after a similar incident was reported in August when 18 people died at the Thane Municipal Corporation-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial (CSMM) Hospital in Kalwa.
Earlier on Monday, 24 people, including 12 infants, died at the hospital.
The state-run hospital then issued a statement which said that among the adult patients who died, there were four cases of heart disease, one case of poisoning, one case of gastric disease, two cases of kidney disease, one case of obstetric complications and three cases of accidents. Among the child patients, four were in a terminal stage and were referred from private hospitals.
“In recent days, more critical patients, especially those in terminal stages, have been arriving from district and other areas. The dedicated medical team and staff are diligently attending to their needs. This medical college and hospital have a longstanding history of providing excellent services to the community, and all admitted patients are receiving the necessary care,” the statement read.
A senior Maharashtra government officer has said a committee has been formed to investigate the deaths. “A three-member expert committee from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district has been formed with a mandate to submit a report by 1 pm tomorrow. I am personally visiting the hospital to review the situation,” Dr Dilip Mhaisekar, Director, Medical Education and Research, told news agency PTI yesterday.
Also Read: Maharashtra: 17 patients die in 24 hours in Thane hospital, state-level panel to probe deaths
The deaths in the government hospital have triggered a sharp attack by the Opposition on the Eknath Shinde-led government in the state.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has sought a detailed probe, saying the incident was “extremely painful, serious and worrying”. Kharge also referred to a similar incident at a government hospital in Thane in August, when 18 patients died within a short interval.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP, part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra. “The BJP government spends thousands of crores on publicity, but there is no money to buy medicines for children?” he asked in a post on X.
Maharashtra Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has said the Eknath Shinde government should take up the matter and provide immediate help to the Nanded hospital.