The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has directed the payment of Rs 16 lakh as compensation to the family of a 23-year-old woman from Nandurbar who died soon after childbirth. The commission attributed her death to negligence, absence of medical staff, and poor infrastructure at government hospitals. Half of the compensation amount will be placed in a fixed deposit for the child of the deceased.
Incident Details
Kavita Raut experienced labor pains in Nandurbar in 2024. Due to the unavailability of an ambulance, her family transported her to a nearby primary health centre (PHC) in a private vehicle. Upon arrival, no doctor was present at the centre. Given her critical condition, the staff referred her to a higher facility via ambulance. However, the ambulance broke down en route.
A second ambulance was arranged, but before reaching the hospital, she delivered the baby and suffered severe bleeding. The second hospital also referred her to another centre without providing any accompanying medical staff. She died in the ambulance before reaching the third hospital.
Commission's Findings
MSHRC member Sanjay Kumar, a retired IPS officer, concluded in his order that the death occurred due to negligence, apathy, poor training, lack of proper infrastructure, and absence of medical officers and staff. The judgment noted that the state report submitted to the commission was silent about the presence of doctors at RH Molgi. It stated, 'It is not clear who exactly extended the treatment.'
The commission observed that the district health officer and civil surgeon of Nandurbar appeared more focused on protecting the delinquent medical officers and staff rather than providing a clear picture of the situation.
Vacant Posts and Infrastructure Issues
The CEO of Nandurbar Zilla Parishad informed the MSHRC that two medical officer posts were vacant at PHC Pimplakhuta due to the time-consuming ad hoc recruitment procedure. The CEO also mentioned that the community health officer (doctor) at the PHC had left early on the day of the incident and would face disciplinary action.
The district health officer highlighted challenges in providing health services due to inaccessible terrain and the unwillingness of medical staff to serve in the area. He submitted that approximately 65% of health worker (ANM) posts were vacant in the district.
The MSHRC concluded that while Raut's death resulted from negligence, apathy, and dereliction of duty by medical staff at PHC Pimpalkhuta and RH Molgi, the poor medical infrastructure and poorly maintained ambulance played a contributory role. The commission stated, 'The medical staff both at PHC and rural hospital, in order to shirk their responsibilities, used the referral excuse.'
