The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital.
Credit: Justdial.com
In a shocking incident, at least 18 patients died in a span of 24 hours at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital (CSHM) at Kalwa in Thane city, triggering protests by relatives on Sunday even as the incident spiralled into a major political row.
Incidentally, Thane, which neighbours Mumbai, is the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and his BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP MahaYuti-government came under fire from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in the wake of the incident.
The Maharashtra government has ordered a probe into the incident through a high-level committee, which would go to each and every case, the clinical reasons for the deaths, and any lacunae in medical treatment or negligence and lack of equipment.
The CSHM, located in the Thane-Belapur Road, is run by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).
A few days ago, NCP MLA from Mumbra-Kalwa and former minister Jitendra Awhad flagged the issue of five deaths in a day at the hospital.
While Awhad's comments had flown below the radar then, the 18 deaths reported on Sunday flared up into a big issue.
Security around the CSMH was beefed up amid arguments and protests by the relatives of the deceased and local political activists.
"The incident is sad, unfortunate...we have taken it very seriously," Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.
According to available information, five to six deaths on average are reported daily at the CSMH, which happens to be one of the biggest hospitals in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Of the 18 deaths, 13 of the patients were in the ICU, while the rest were in different wards.
The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) top brass and CSMH’s team briefed Shinde about the incidents in detail.
“The patients had complications of kidney stone, chronic paralysis, ulcer, pneumonia, kerosene poisoning and septicemia…12 of the deceased were above the age of 50..some of them were over 80 years in age,” said TMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar.
Health Minister Dr Tanaji Sawant said that the CSMH Dean had been asked to furnish a report on the incident within two days.
Meanwhile, Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif and Woman and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare visited the hospital for a first-hand assessment of the situation.
Relatives of those who died had alleged negligence on part of the civic hospital management.
The CSMH is the biggest tertiary-care hospital in the area and faces shortage of staff, according to local activists.
Leader of the Opposition in Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar held the government responsible for the incident. “Several districts do not have guardian ministers and some guardian ministers have responsibilities of more than one district,” he said.
Former Thane Mayor Naresh Mhaske, a close aide of Shinde and Shiv Sena spokesperson, said that the hospital is working above capacity as it sees a constant stream of patients.
Meanwhile, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar termed the incident unfortunate and blamed the administration for lapses. “It is very unfortunate that the administration did not wake up even when the incident of death of 5 patients in the last few days was fresh. I share in the grief of the families of the deceased and express my condolences," he said.