13th August 2023, Mumbai: Eighteen patients admitted to government-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial (CSMM) Hospital in Thane’s Kalwa were reported dead within a span of 24 hours.
The Incident comes close on the heels of public and political outcry after five patients died within one day on August 10.
Negligence by Hospital staff
Six of the patients were from Thane city, and another six were referred to the hospital from Kalyan. Six of the patients died within 24 hours of being admitted to the hospital.
Relatives of the patients have alleged negligence by hospital staff, but the administration has denied these charges. Activists have claimed that there is a shortage of staff at the hospital.
The hospital Is the only major tertiary hospital in the area, and it receives patients from neighboring districts and regions.
Relatives of the deceased patients have complained that the hospital staff neglected their demands for admitting their loved ones to the ICU. They have also said that they were made to wait for treatment.
Some officials put the toll at 18 but this could not be confirmed.
Speaking to PTI, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ganesh Gawde said, “We have information of 17 deaths in the last 24 hours. We have been told the usual figure per day is six to seven.”
“The hospital management told us some of the patients arrived there in a critical stage and succumbed during treatment. Some were elderly. We have increased police presence at the hospital to avoid any untoward incident due to these high number of deaths,” the DCP informed.
Sawant said the dean of the hospital has been asked to submit a report in two days on the 17 deaths in the last 24 hours.
13 people in ICU
“Of these 17, a total of 13 were in the ICU. A few days ago, five patients had died in the hospital. The state government has asked the dean to submit a report in two days,” the minister told reporters in Pune.
“Action will be taken as per the report of the dean. This hospital comes under the state medical education and research department. Its minister Hasan Mushrif has reached the hospital and he is looking into the matter,” Sawant said.
By ASC Priya