18 Deaths Reported in 48 Hours at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Thane

A Thane Municipal Corporation official said the deaths were being analyzed and several civic officials are at the heavily-patronized facility for inspection of records.

Thane: The civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa, Thane city, saw 18 patients die in the last 24 hours. The police said the management of the facility cited the critical nature of the patients as well as their age as causes of death. State health minister Rajesh Tope said the dean of the hospital has been asked to submit a report in two days. A Thane Municipal Corporation official said the deaths were being analyzed and several civic officials are at the heavily-patronized facility for inspection of records, etc, as per a report in the Mint.

Statement From Municipal Commissioner

“18 deaths have been reported in the last 48 hours. Some of the patients who have died were already receiving treatment for various ailments including chronic kidney disease, pneumonia, kerosene poisoning, road accident and other reasons. I have briefed the CM on these deaths. A committee will be constituted for an impartial investigation into this incident to find out if the patients received optimal treatment,” Abhijit Bangar, Thane Municipal Commissioner was quoted saying by the report.

Earlier, state health minister Tanaji Sawant and local Deputy Commissioner of Police Ganesh Gawde had put the number of deaths at 17.

What Did Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Say

Addressing a news conference, Bangar said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had taken feedback about the situation and had ordered the setting up of an independent probe committee that will be headed by the commissioner of health services and will include collector, civic chief, director of health services, interventionist at state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai and civic surgeon.

It will carry out probe into the clinical aspect of the deaths, he added. These patients had complications of kidney stone, chronic paralysis, ulcer, pneumonia, kerosene poisoning, septicemia etc, he said.

“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.

ICU Beds Increased

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…,” says Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar on Thane hospital deaths

Entire COVID staff Shifted

“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 told reporters.

Earlier in the day, state health minister Sawant said the dean of the hospital had been asked to submit a report in two days. A Thane Municipal Corporation official said the deaths were being analysed and several civic officials are at the heavily-patronised facility for inspection of records etc.

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.

Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan said “16 deaths” in a a single day in a hospital with a capacity of 500 was a matter of concern. NCP leader and MLA from the region Jitendra Awhad said the hospital was mismanaged and asked the administration to set things right before it was too late.

State minister Aditi Tatkare, who visited the hospital, called the deaths unfortunate and said the Maharashtra government will take all efforts to ensure such an incident is not repeated. Former Thane mayor Naresh Mhakse, who is also spokesperson of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, said the hospital was “over loaded” and was treating 650 patients per day against a capacity of 500.

The civil hospital in the area is being renovated so the load falls on this facility in Kalwa, Mhaske claimed. Hospital sources, meanwhile, said some doctors were down with dengue which was also affecting the running of the facility. Local MNS leader Avinash Jadhav sought proactive measures to improve the efficiency of the hospital.

(With agency inputs)

Watch:

#WATCH | 18 deaths reported in last 48 hours in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, Kalwa of Thane district
"18 deaths have been reported in the last 48 hours. Some of the patients who have died were already receiving treatment for various ailments including chronic kidney… pic.twitter.com/N84rFqCbaE
— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2023