As the death toll due to encephalitis increased to 123 in north Bengal with the death of four more patients in the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH), the Trinamool Congress government drew severe criticism from the Opposition parties.
Both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the State government for the lack of infrastructure at NBMCH, which, according to them, is one of the main reasons for the deaths.
“Today (Wednesday) four persons have died in NBMCH. Among them three were suffering from acute encephalitis syndrome and one from Japanese rncephalitis,” B.R. Satapathi, Director of Health Services of West Bengal, told The Hindu on Wednesday.
He also said that those who died during the day were under ventilation for the last five to seven days.
BJP State President Rahul Sinha, who visited NBMCH earlier in the day, criticised the State Government for refusing the Centre’s help in tacking the situation.
“Even though the Centre is ready to help the State government in improving the medical infrastructure to curb the spread of encephalitis in north Bengal, the State government is making it a prestige issue. It is refusing to take Centre’s help,” he claimed.
Mr. Sinha claimed that the NBMCH has a maximum capacity of 550 beds, but 1,500 patients were admitted there. He also said that until recently non-purified water was being supplied to the patients and their relatives.
Mr. Sinha accused the State government of “being devoid of any concern.” He said the BJP had demanded a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh to the families of those who have died due to encephalitis and of Rs.2 lakh to those suffering from the disease. “The deaths have taken place due to the State government’s negligence,” he alleged.
Describing the situation in NBMCH as “critical”, senior Congress leader Manas Bhunia, who visited the hospital earlier in the day, said the State government “should not hesitate in cooperating with the Centre to curb the encephalitis outbreak.” He stressed on the need for a “combined effort” on the part of the Centre and the State government to curb the spread of encephalitis.
Mr. Bhunia claimed that 6 posts of medical officers were lying vacant at NBMCH along with 971 other posts. He said that the NBMCH is “heavily understaffed and the doctors there are under tremendous pressure.”
With regard to the recent suspension of three health officials in north Bengal, Mr. Bhunia said this had a “negative impact on the morale of the doctors of NBMCH.”
