Bombay HC queries Maharashtra on hospital vacancies

NEW DELHI

Following the hearing on the recent deaths of patients at a government hospital in Nanded, the Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government on Friday to file an affidavit on the steps taken for filling vacancies in government hospitals in the last 6 months.
The court has also asked the state government to mention the demand and supplies of medicines to the government hospitals in the last 6 months.

Furthermore, the high court asked the medical procurement authority to file an affidavit in accordance with the Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023 on the purchase of medicines and its appointed and available staff.
Therefore, the court has directed the procurement authority to mention whether its staff is for procurement only or are given charge of the authority in addition to it.

The court stated, The affidavit filed by the Principal Secretary of Medical Education should also give details of the institutions attached with Nanded for medical supplies in the past one year. Similar details should also be provided by the Principal Secretary of the Public Health Department for other hospitals.
The Bombay High Court taking cognizance of the recent deaths of patients in the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Medical College and Hospital at Maharashtra’s Nanded district questioned the state government over less postings of Professors in the medical college.

The court asked, “There are 97 approved posts of Professors in the medical college but only 49 are posted there at present, what would you say on that? “
Attorney General Advocate Birendra Saraf, representing the Maharashtra government stated that the state health services department is positive about the vacancies and those will be filled by November this year.

Also, the high court questioned the unavailability of Chief Executive Officer of the Medicine Procurement Board at the hospital to which the Attorney General said that a person is already having an additional charge of the board.
In response to this, the court questioned the state government saying that there must be a full-time and independent CEO of the medicine procurement board.

The court stated that the problem of hospital staff, both medic and paramedic, must be addressed properly by the government. The issues of procurement of medicines and other medical equipment is also important. The Attorney General informed that, recruitment process in medical colleges has been conducted by Maharashtra Public Service Commission and in other hospitals, doctors are being appointed by other recruitment processes by the Public health department.
At least 31 people died in the government-run Dr Shankarrao Chavan Medical College and Hospital Nanded, reportedly due to an alleged scarcity of medicines.