Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 9: High Court today sought updated status report from G B Pant Hospital on mortality rate of infants in the Hospital since 2012.
Additional Advocate General M I Dar appearing counsel for Health Department requested the Court for time in filing the requisite report which the Court granted to him. “….Time is granted for filing requisite updated status report, be filed by or before the next date”, Division Bench of Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey directed.
The Division Bench passed the direction in PIL filed way back in 2012 when about 350 infants died in the hospital during five months.
Status report filed by G B Pant Hospital authorities earlier did not indicate the complete picture with regard to number of infants who died in the hospital since 2012. Authorities were further directed for information of mortality rate in the hospital on monthly or quarterly basis.
Court has already been informed that in 2012 there have been 350 deaths of infants in GB Pant Hospital and in this back drop Medical Superintendant of hospital and his counsel were asked to inform the Court the mortality rate since from 2012 till date.
It may be mentioned here that in 2012, out of 2590 babies, 350 died in both IPD and OPD in five months as per the MS of hospital. He has already informed the Court that there is 3.2 percent (approximately) mortality at present.
Court has already observed, the facilities in peripheral hospitals is insufficient and need to be strengthened at the level of sub-centres, Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals.
Court has emphasized on necessity for galvanizing the health administrative set up in the State and effective steps are required to be taken.
The Court was hearing Public Interest Litigations filed in the aftermath of large scales deaths in the Children’s Hospital here in 2012.
Court in its earlier order has also ruled that the child even when in womb of the mother must have all the basic human rights available to him/her which include proper nutrition and medical care.
The PIL has been filed by two social and child rights activists, Dr Rouf Mohi-ud-Din Malik and Tanveer Hussain Khan through Advocate Faisal Qadri.
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