Jharkhand HC Takes Cognizance Of Child Deaths In State

The Jharkhand High Court has taken suo moto cognisance of an internal report on child deaths in MGM hospital, Jamshedpur, and converted it into a PIL. The court told the government to inform it about the steps the government plans to take to improve health services in the state.

Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh said on Friday that the state government must take more measures to make primary and the secondary health sectors effective. A large number of patients would not come to district level hospitals when they get health services at lower levels.

Earlier, the HC had asked for a report on the child deaths in the MGM hospital from chairman of East Singhbhun’s district legal services authority. Over 60 children were reported dead within 30 days in the MGM hospital in August.

Taking cognisance of the report, Justice Singh issued notices to government functionaries asking them to file report on the steps planned for improving health services in two weeks.

While appearing for the government advocate general Ajit Kumar informed the court that the state government would see the internal report of the court and also analyse its own inquiry report in the incident to take adequate measures. Singh said the hospital sometimes finds it difficult to cope up with a heavy flow of patients.