The Calcutta High Court has lately presented stern admonitions against the West Bengal health department, citing systemic neglect and mismanagement of the state's healthcare system. These reprimands come against a backdrop of a series of events that have raised serious doubts over patient safety and the overall effectiveness of healthcare services in the state.
Delayed Withdrawal of Contaminated IV Fluids
In December 2024, the Drugs Control Directorate directed Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical to stop manufacturing Ringer's lactate intravenous fluids after a patient, Mamoni Ruidas, died allegedly due to tainted IV administration. Notwithstanding the directive, existing stocks of the potentially toxic fluid were not immediately withdrawn from medical institutions. It was only on January 14, 2025, that the health department acted to stop the use of these IV fluids. The High Court was shocked at this delay and asked the health department questions about why they had not been proactive in guaranteeing patient safety. Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam made a comment about the shocking passivity of the department in response to this issue, highlighting the extreme importance of timely actions in healthcare management.
Neglect of Rural Healthcare Infrastructure
The court has also pointed to the long-standing neglect of rural health infrastructure in West Bengal. A large number of the state's population is rural, but these areas lack proper medical facilities and personnel. It is reported that nearly 12,310 sub-centres have inadequate manpower, and 1,870 of them do not have proper buildings and have to operate from rented premises. Every sub-centre caters to a population of approximately 5,000 to 7,000 persons, resulting in overworked facilities and compromised care for patients.
Due to this negligence, there is a dependence on untrained practitioners of healthcare services, popularly referred to as 'quacks,' particularly rural areas. Inability to reach qualified medical workers and available health care services provides a vacuum to be filled by these unskilled practitioners and, in so doing, subjects patients to much danger to health and safety.
Misallocation of Donated Land for Healthcare Facilities
Recently, the High Court challenged the allocation of land in South 24-Parganas' Mathurapur by the state government for building a booster pumping station. The land was donated specifically for the creation of a hospital to cater to the local people. Presently, there is a 10-bed primary health centre functioning on the site, but demands for a more comprehensive hospital have long been heard in order to cater to increasing healthcare requirements in the area. The government was condemned by the court, laying special emphasis on the urgency to increase medical infrastructure in such locations as the Sunderbans, where the citizens experience considerable hardship in reaching high-quality healthcare services.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Pragati Sakhuja/MSM)