Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Hemant Patil made a visit on Tuesday to the government hospital situated in the Nanded district of Maharashtra, where an unfortunate incident had resulted in the deaths of 31 patients over a two-day period. During his visit, Patil took a rather unconventional approach by requesting the dean of the hospital to personally engage in cleaning the hospital's toilet facilities with the use of a broom. This visit was accompanied by visuals showing the dean actively participating in the cleaning process, while Patil and other members of the hospital administration looked on.
In addition to his actions involving the dean, Patil also called for accountability and legal action to be taken against the hospital's medical staff in connection with the patient fatalities that occurred between September 30 and October 2. He advocated for the registration of a murder case against all the doctors.
During his inspection of the hospital premises, Patil conducted a comprehensive tour accompanied by hospital administration officials and the police. He also took the opportunity to engage with some of the patients.
Speaking with reporters following his visit, the BJP MP shared his observations, highlighting the unsanitary conditions he encountered. He revealed that the dean's restroom block was heavily soiled, with the bathroom facilities left unused for an extended period. Patil also reported that the restrooms in the children's section were locked, while those in the women's section were found littered with empty liquor bottles.
Patil further noted that the vicinity around the hospital had a significant presence of animals, including pigs, roaming freely. He emphasized the general lack of cleanliness in the area, underscoring the need for immediate attention.
In his request to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Patil urged the highest level of punitive measures to be taken against both the dean and the head of the hospital department. He firmly believed that such actions were essential for the hospital's improvement.
In response, the government hospital issued a statement asserting that there was no shortage of medicines and that the patients who tragically passed away, consisting of five men and seven women, were already in the "last stage" of their respective conditions. The hospital provided specific details about the patients' conditions, stating that four of them suffered from heart attacks, one from a snake bite, another from kidney disease, and three were victims of accidents. The statement also indicated that four children in extremely severe condition had been admitted to the hospital.
To address the matter, Chief Minister Shinde pledged a thorough investigation into the patient deaths, assuring that "appropriate action" would be taken against any individuals found responsible. Meanwhile, Maharashtra's Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif announced that a committee had been established by the state government to investigate the issue.
The tragic events at the Nanded hospital are scheduled to be discussed during a state cabinet meeting today.
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