Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 3
The Bihar Government has told the Supreme Court that it has already taken steps to check the spread of acute encephalitis syndorme (AES) in Muzaffarpur and that AES fatality rate in the state is lower than global average despite shortage of doctors and nurses.
In an affidavit filed in the SC, the Nitish Kumar government said the state had already taken all-possible steps to prevent the spread of the disease by providing additional medical facilities in the affected region. It also said that in cooperation with the Centre, AIIMS and other agencies, it has simultaneously provided all medical facilities to treat the affected children.
“The steps taken by the state has prevented spread of the disease and has reduced the fatality rate arising out of the AES,” it said in its affidavit filed in response to a PIL on the issue, adding this was despite having only 43 per cent doctors and 29 per cent nurses against the sanctioned strength. Of the 824 AES cases in Bihar, 157 deaths were reported but the fatality rate had come down to 19 per cent, against the global rate of 30 per cent.
Acting on a PIL filed by advocate Manohar Pratap, the SC had on June 24 asked the Bihar Government and the Centre to file affidavits within a week on adequacy of public medicalcare facilities, nutrition and sanitation/hygiene in the state. A Vacation Bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna had sought a similar affidavit from the Government of Uttar Pradesh where Gorakhpur and adjoining districts had been affected by AES in recent past. “This is a serious matter. Deaths can’t keep happening. We need definite answers,” it had said.
The petitioner had sought direction to the Centre to provide necessary medical help and support for effective treatment of children suffering from the epidemic and a relief of Rs10 lakh to surviving members of family of each child who died due to negligence of the state machinery.
Admits shortage of doctors, nurses
In an affidavit to the SC, the Nitish govt admitted that only 43% of the sanctioned strength of doctors is available in hospitals. The percentage of nurses is 29%.
5,205 doctors against sanctioned strength of 12,206
5,634 nurses against sanctioned strength of 19,155
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