NHRC notice to MP govt over heatlh care facilities

New Delhi, Jul 22: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to Madhya Pradesh government over reports of pathetic health care facilities in Damoh district.

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report about the poor health care facilities in Damoh, the commission noted that when even the collector of the district finds himself helpless, the plight of ordinary people can be imagined very well.

The NHRC has issued a notice to the Principal Secretary, Department of Public Health and Family Welfare calling for a report in the matter within four weeks, the Commission said in a statement. "It is the prime duty of the state to provide medical facilities to everyone.

The matter requires special attention of the state government," observed the Commission. According to the report carried on July 19, medical care facilities are in such a bad shape that out of 68 sanctioned posts of senior doctors in the District Hospital, only 16 are filled.

It does not have ICU facilities and ends up referring patients to Jabalpur Medical College or Sagar, which are over 100 Km and 75 Km away respectively.

The patients are usually told that there are no ambulances and many end up covering the long distance on their own. The District Collector found himself helpless and lost his ailing mother on June 11 as a lot of precious time was wasted in carrying her to Jabalpur, the statement said.

"The system is faulty and I am as much responsible for it as others," he was quoted as saying.

PTI