Gorakhpur hospital deaths: Sacked paediatrician made scapegoat, allege AIIMS doctors

Resident doctors of the AIIMS Monday (August 14) alleged that sacked paediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan had been made a "scapegoat" in the Gorakhpur hospital deaths last week in which 70 children lost their lives.

Media reports said one reason for the deaths was a shortage of oxygen after a private supplier withdrew its equipment over unpaid hospital dues.

Kafeel Khan, who was the head of the encephalitis ward at the hospital, was removed from his post two days after he saved hundreds of children by collecting oxygen cylinders from various nursing homes with his own money.

He was removed for failing to take action on a letter by those in charge of oxygen supply, a media report stated citing government sources.

The AIIMS doctors alleged that Dr Khan had been made a scapegoat for infrastructural lapses by the government.

"With great pain we have to say that once again a doctor has been made a scapegoat for the infrastructural lapse and failure of the government," President of the resident doctors association at AIIMS, Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti, said.

The association has written a letter condemning the sacking and has also accused the Uttar Pradesh government of "gross neglect of public health."

"If oxygen, gloves, surgical instruments and basic medicines are not available in the hospital, then who is responsible? According to the government, the doctor is responsible. I request politicians not to spoil this relationship between the patient and the doctor to hide their incompetency," Bhatti said in the letter.

On Monday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government, asking it for a detailed report on the deaths.

The human rights body called the deaths "gross callousness on part of the hospital administration".

Hospital officials maintain that the deaths were caused by encephalitis and a brief disruption but not lack of oxygen.

Victims' families have disputed this, describing the panic and chaos as patients began struggling from a sudden lack of oxygen.

According to data procured from the BRD hospital, in five days - from August 7 to August 11, a total of 60 deaths occurred in the hospital. Thirty children died within a span of 48 hours.

Many of the victims were infants admitted at the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.

The procured data also shows the number of oxygen cylinders sent for refilling each day, showing a clear shortage of liquid oxygen in the hospital.

The Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government suspended the head of the state-run BRD Medical College, Rajeev Misra, late on Saturday and ordered an investigation into contracts to supply oxygen.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) said on Sunday that Rajiv Mishra's suspension was wrong because the tragedy was an administrative failure and everyone should be held accountable.

The issue of the unpaid bills for oxygen supply has been debated by the hospital and the state government after the suspended hospital chief on Saturday accused state officials of ignoring his requests for money.

The Uttar Pradesh health minister has defended the government's role, saying no issue of unpaid bills had been brought to its attention and all requests for funds were paid promptly.

Encephalitis outbreaks kill hundreds in India every year, especially during the monsoon season.

Public health accounts for only one per cent of India's GDP, which is among the world's lowest.