At least 18 patients, admitted at the civic-run hospital in Maharashtra’s Thane city, died in the span of 24 hours. The incident was reported at the government-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial (CSMM) Hospital in Thane’s Kalwa, where five patients died within one day on August 10, leading to public and political outcry.
Among them are 10 women and eight men, with six from Thane city, four from Kalyan, three from Sahapur, one each from Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, and Govandi (in Mumbai). Additionally, one patient is from another location, and one remains unidentified. Twelve of the deceased were above the age of 50.
Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar condoled the deaths and slammed the district administration for not taking timely action “even when the incident of death of five patients in the last few days was fresh."
“A heartbreaking incident took place in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital at Kopari of Thane Municipal Corporation yesterday night where 17 patients died. It is very unfortunate that the administration did not wake up even when the incident of death of 5 patients in the last few days was fresh. I share in the grief of the families of the deceased and express my condolences. A moving tribute to the deceased," Pawar posted on the microblogging site X, formally known as Twitter.
As per media reports, the majority of patients who died were admitted to the ICU.
The death toll was updated later on Sunday. “In the past 48 hours, 18 deaths have been reported. Some of the deceased patients were already undergoing treatment for various conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, pneumonia, kerosene poisoning, road accidents, and other causes," Thane Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar stated. “A committee will be constituted for an impartial investigation into this incident to find out if the patients received optimal treatment," he said.
#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
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.
Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar said, “Our sympathies are with the families. If any negligence is found, then action will be taken and also compensation."
#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 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital has been increased, and when the capacity is expanded, critical patients who are in the final stages of their lives also get admitted. Doctors try their best to save them…", he said.
“A committee has already been formed to probe. If the deaths are natural and the patients had arrived in the terminal stage, then it becomes very challenging for the doctors as well. A patient can go to any hospital, but the condition in which they arrive becomes crucial for the doctor’s ability to save them," he added.
As per the report, civic officials said that they are analysing the cause of deaths at the facility.
On Thursday, a mob gathered at the hospital and questioned the authorities alleging the death of five persons in a day due to “negligence”.