The deplorable condition of Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Medical College and Hospital in Maharashtra has shocked state authorities as the death toll rose to 31 in the past 48 hours, including twelve infants. Initial media reports had cited the cause of deaths as a lack of medicines and healthcare workers. However, on Tuesday, the Chief Minister’s office issued an official statement, saying, “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.”
State Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif expressed concern about the issue of housekeeping and the hospital’s delayed procurement of medicines. He said, “The issue of housekeeping is very serious; we have taken that seriously… They still have ₹4-5 crores. Why didn’t they purchase medicines? Our committee will provide answers…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.”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Hemant Patil took direct action in response to the dire hospital conditions. He visited the Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital and made the acting dean, S R Wakode, clean a dirty toilet and urinals, a video of which went viral. Patil expressed his dismay over the state of the hospital’s facilities, including the lack of cleaning and hygiene in the toilets.
In the video, Patil can be heard questioning the staff about the condition of the toilets and their lack of basic cleaning supplies. He also handed a broom to the acting dean and made him clean a toilet and wall-mounted urinals. Patil criticized the hospital staff for their negligence in maintaining the hospital’s hygiene and facilities.
“The government spends crores, but I am pained to see the situation here. The toilets have not been cleaned for months. The toilets in the wards of the hospital are locked. No water is available in toilets,” Patil told a news channel.
Patil pledged to request the chief minister to initiate legal action against individuals who draw government salaries but neglect their work. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has expressed deep concern over the deaths at the Nanded hospital and assured that appropriate action would be taken following a detailed inquiry. He refuted claims of medicine shortages and staff inadequacies.
The shocking state of the Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Medical College and Hospital in Maharashtra has raised serious questions about healthcare infrastructure and management in the region. The incident has prompted a comprehensive investigation into the hospital’s operations, including issues related to cleanliness, medicine procurement, and staff negligence. The authorities are determined to address the situation and ensure that such tragic incidents do not recur in the future.