DCW asks Delhi Police to start criminal prosecution against authorities

New Delhi The DCW asked Delhi Police on Tuesday to initiate criminal prosecution against state health department officials and hospital authorities over the death of 21 children allegedly due to nonavailability of diphtheria vaccineLast year in September 21 children died due to diphtheria at a civic hospital in north Delhi The deaths were reported at the Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital at Kingsway CampDelhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal said it is clear that the deaths of the children could have been prevented had the vaccine been procured in a timely mannerInstead the North MCD dragged its feet in the matter and for over nine months there was no vaccine available in the hospital Further acute infrastructural issues highlighted raise serious concerns on the intent and sincerity of hospital authorities and it may be the case that funds meant for upkeep and upgradation of the hospital were mismanaged Maliwal said in the noticeTherefore it is clear that the deaths of the children were a direct result of criminal negligence and seemingly corrupt conduct of North Municipal Corporation of Delhi authorities she said in the notice to the Joint Commissioner of Police Northern Range Delhi PoliceIn view of the above it is important that an FIR under relevant sections of the law for criminal negligence and mismanagement is immediately registered in the matter against the health department officials and MVID Hospital authorities and a proper investigation is undertaken in the matter she saidShe asked Delhi Police to provide an action taken the report in the matter latest by January 31 failing which appropriate action shall be initiated as per lawThe commission has instituted an inquiry into the matter and in this regard notices were issued to the North MCDIn its reply dated September 27 the Health Department of North MCD has submitted a report on the matter the DCW saidAccording to the DCW the report said that the stock of antidiphtheria vaccine was completely consumed by December 2 2017 and till September 22 2018 for over 95 months there was not even a single dose of antidiphtheria serum ADS available in the hospitalOn April 28 last year upon delay of two months after the visit a letter was sent to the DGHS Delhi government seeking approval of the Ministry of Health for manufacturing of ADS by the Central Research Institute Kasauli the DCW saidA reply was received from the DGHS wherein it was informed that CRI Kasauli will deliver first batch of ADS on September 30 it saidRegarding the infrastructure of the hospital the DCW said diphtheria wards were poorly lit proper isolation facilities were not available intravenous infusion pumps and continuous cardiacrespiratory monitoring facilities were not available in the hospitalThere was no ICU or high dependency facilities for sick patients Antiarrhythmic drugs were not available Tracheostomy facilities and operation theatre services were not available Ambulance XRay and laboratory services were not available and services of the neighbouring RBTB hospital were being used the DCW saidCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever