During the winter session of the state assembly, opposition parties in Maharashtra demonstrated against the state government and Health Minister Tanaji Sawant over the deaths that had taken place in state government hospitals. During the protests, Ambadas Danve, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, held a board in his hands that listed the names of the areas and the number of deaths in the local government hospital. He participated in the protest by donning an oxygen mask as well.
A shortage of medicines is said to have caused the deaths of 24 people, including 12 infants, at a government hospital in Nanded, Maharashtra, earlier in October. The incident at this Shankarao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital was reported because there was a purported shortage of medication. The deceased were afflicted with a variety of illnesses, such as snake bites, arsenic and phosphorus poisoning, among others, according to Dr. Shyamrao Wakode, the Medical College’s acting dean.
“Around 12 children died in the last 24 hours…12 adults also died due to various ailments (snake bites, arsenic and phosphorus poisoning, etc.). Due to the transfers of various staff, there was some difficulty for us. We were supposed to buy medicines from the Haffkine Institute but that also didn’t happen. Also, patients come from far off to this hospital and there were many patients whose sanctioned budget also got disturbed,” he said.
Opposition parties also protested the deaths in government hospitals in Chandrapur, Nanded, Kalwa (Thane), and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, blaming the state government and health minister for the hospitals’ inadequate infrastructure.
Earlier, on Monday, the opposition leaders staged a protest on the third day of the assembly winter session against the centre’s decision to ban onion exports.
The opposition also demanded an increase in the MSP (minimum support price) of onions and financial aid to farmers affected by seasonal rain. Slogans were raised against the government during the protest.