Mumbai: 18 in-patients died in 24 hours at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital at Galway in Thane, Maharashtra. The Chief Minister has ordered an inquiry into whether the negligence of the doctors was the cause of this incident while the relatives were protesting that the negligence of the doctors was the cause of these deaths.
Among the deceased, 10 were women and 8 were men. A total of 6 of them are from Thane, 4 from Kalyan, 3 from Saharpur, 1 from Bhiwandi, 1 each from Ulsanagar and Gowandi. One is not sure which region one belongs to. 12 out of 18 are over 50 years of age.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who met the media regarding the incident, said, “He has ordered an inquiry committee headed by the Commissioner of Health, comprising District Collector, Municipal Chairman and Director of Health Department. Action will be taken based on the inquiry report of this committee.”
All the 18 people who died were admitted for various ailments like kidney stone, stroke, stomach ulcer, pneumonia, attempted suicide by drinking kerosene, septicemia.
The head of the hospital said that during the investigation, the medical treatment given to all of them will be examined and the statements of the relatives will be recorded.
Additional doctors and nurses are on standby at the hospital to deal with the situation. He also said that steps have been taken to speed up the special examination as well.
State Health Minister Sawant said, “The dean of the hospital has been directed to file a report on the incident in two days.”
