NHRC sends notice to Centre, all states over 'deplorable' public health infrastructure, will conduct fact-finding mission in 'vulnerable' states
New Delhi: Expressing serious concern over the "deplorable public health infrastructure" in the country, the NHRC Thursday issued notices to the Centre and all states and Union Territories, underlining loss of lives in various parts of the country in recent times, including of over 100 children in Muzaffarpur.
Children suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) being treated at a hospital in Muzaffarpur. PTI
The National Human Rights Commission has also directed that teams comprising doctors on the panel of the NHRC, along with its officers, will visit hospitals, primary health centres and other health facilities in "vulnerable" states one by one, starting with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab to conduct on-the-spot fact-finding investigation, officials said.
"Expressing serious concern over deplorable public health infrastructure in the country, the National Human Rights Commission has today taken suo motu cognisance of a series of media reports about the loss of precious human lives in various parts of the country in recent times, due to deficiencies and inadequacies in the healthcare system," the rights panel said in a statement.
The NHRC has issued a notice to the secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, asking for a comprehensive report within four weeks on the observations made by the commission.
The rights panel said it has also sent notices to the chief secretaries of all the states and Union Territories to submit their reports within six weeks, giving details of the incidents related to deaths.
Tags : BIhar, Encephalitis, Encephalitis In Bihar, Encephalitis Outbreak, Haryana, Health, Muzzafarpur, NewsTracker, NHRC, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh
Encephalitis in Bihar: Six of 22 children admitted with suspected AES in Gaya die; toll rises to 142 in Muzaffarpur
Amid encephalitis outbreak, Bihar govt tells Supreme Court that 57% posts of doctors are vacant in health centres
Five dead from Japanese Encephalitis, nine from AES in Assam's Dibrugarh; 189 total cases registered
Three dead, two lakh affected by rain, flood-related incidents in Assam; heavy showers lash Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, West Bengal
1NHRC sends notice to Centre, all states over 'deplorable' public health infrastructure, will conduct fact-finding mission in 'vulnerable' states