Thane Hospital Reports 18 Deaths In 24 Hrs, Maha Govt Forms Probe Panel Amid Concerns Over Negligence

Thane Hospital Deaths: Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar addressing said a high-power committee will look into details as the number of deaths is more than normal.

File Photo of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Eighteen patients died in 24 hours at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa in Thane, civic commissioner Abhijit Bangar informed on Sunday. These include 10 women and eight men, six of whom are from Thane city, four from Kalyan, three from Sahapur, one each from Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, and Govandi (in Mumbai), one patient is from another place and one is unidentified, he stated, further informing that 12 of the deceased were above the age of 50.

During a news conference, the civic commissioner said that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took feedback about the situation and ordered the constitution of an independent probe committee to be headed by the commissioner of health services, news agency PTI reported. It will also comprise collector, civic chief, director of health services, and interventionist at the state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai, also a civic surgeon.

The committee will carry out a probe into the clinical aspect of the deaths, he added.

According to Bangar, these deceased patients had complications of kidney stone, chronic paralysis, ulcer, pneumonia, kerosene poisoning, septicemia, etc.

"The line of treatment will be probed and statements of kin of the deceased etc will be recorded. Allegations of negligence levelled by some kin is a serious matter, which the probe committee will look into," Bangar said, as quoted by PTI.

"The entire COVID staff of 500 has been shifted to this hospital and additional nursing staff has been appointed. We are also aiming to have round-the-clock post-mortem facility here," he added.

Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar addressing a presser said the committee will look into details as the number of deaths is more than normal. "If some negligence is found those people will be punished, compensation will be given for those who have died because of negligence," he assured.

Kesarkar asserted that no negligence was found in the primary investigation, but a detailed probe will be done by a high-power committee. "Our sympathies are with the families," he remarked.

#WATCH | Our sympathies are with the families. If any negligence is found, then action will be taken and also compensation: Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar on Thane hospital deaths pic.twitter.com/1iIvKf7EqB

— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2023

"The ICU capacity of this (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital) hospital has been increased & when the capacity is increased critical patients who are at the last stage of their life also get admitted. Doctors try their best to save them...A committee has already been formed to probe...If they are natural deaths & they had come at the last stage then it becomes very difficult for the doctors also...A patient can go to any hospital but in what condition he goes becomes important for the doctor to save him," Kesarkar told news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Thane: "The ICU capacity of this (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital) hospital has been increased & when the capacity is increased critical patients who are at the last stage of their life also get admitted. Doctors try their best to save them...A committee has already… pic.twitter.com/M9f37RjJet

— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2023

Earlier in the day, state health minister Sawant informed that the dean of the hospital had been asked to submit a report in two days.

According to PTI, a Thane Municipal Corporation official stated that the fatalities were being analysed and several civic officials are at the heavily-patronised facility for inspection of records, etc.

On the other hand, NCP leader and MLA from Thane region Jitendra Awhad alleged that the hospital was mismanaged and asked the administration to set things right before it was too late.

Former Thane mayor Naresh Mhakse, also a spokesperson of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, said the hospital was "overloaded", treating 650 patients per day against a capacity of 500, PTI reported.

The civil hospital in the area is being renovated so the load falls on this facility in Kalwa, he claimed.

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