Haryana Rights Commission takes cognisance of newborn's death, orders state-wide review of neonatal facilities

Chandigarh, Jul 13 (PTI) The Haryana Human Rights Commission has ordered a state-wide review of neonatal intensive care facilities, referral mechanism and inter-hospital coordination following the death of a newborn in Hisar due to non-availability of ventilator support in government hospitals. It has sought detailed reports from state authorities, including the health department, after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports on the death of the newborn. According to the media reports, the newborn delivered through a caesarean section at the Civil Hospital, Hisar, developed severe respiratory distress shortly after birth and required immediate ventilator support in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). However, the only neonatal ventilator available at Civil Hospital, Hisar was already occupied following which the infant was referred to the Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha. As ventilator support was allegedly unavailable there as well, the baby was further referred to Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS hospital, Rohtak, where the family was reportedly informed that all ventilators were occupied and that no ventilator could immediately be provided. Left with no effective option, the parents reportedly returned to Hisar and admitted the child to a private hospital, where the newborn was declared dead on July 2. The Commission, in its July 7 order, observed that if the allegations are found to be true, the matter extends far beyond the unfortunate death of a single newborn and points towards serious systemic deficiencies in emergency neonatal healthcare services, referral mechanisms, maintenance of critical medical equipment and coordination among government hospitals. "..The reported facts, if substantiated, disclose issues extending far beyond an isolated incident involving one unfortunate child. They prima facie indicate possible systemic deficiencies in the availability, maintenance and utilisation of critical neonatal healthcare infrastructure in government hospitals and call for careful examination from the perspective of protection of human rights," it said. The full bench of the Commission comprising Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra, Judicial Member Kuldip Jain and Member Deep Bhatia, passed a detailed order calling for comprehensive reports from the Health and Family Welfare Department, Health Services Department and other medical authorities. The Commission also expressed concern over reports that the newborn's father had to spend nearly 24 hours travelling between different government hospitals in search of life-saving treatment. If these allegations are established, they would reflect a serious failure of the emergency healthcare delivery system, the Commission observed. The Commission noted that Civil Hospital, Hisar, one of the largest government hospitals in the district, reportedly had only one neonatal ventilator, which was already in use at the relevant time. Media reports also alleged that out of nearly 40 ventilators available in the hospital, around 25 were lying unused, while about 13 had become non-functional due to technical defects. Allegations that several ventilators supplied during the COVID-19 pandemic remained unused or non-functional due to lack of maintenance and timely repairs were also viewed seriously by the Commission. The Commission observed that before referring any critically ill patient, particularly a newborn, it is the duty of the referring hospital to verify the actual availability of the required medical facilities at the receiving institution. Referring a patient without such verification defeats the very purpose of emergency medical care and unnecessarily endangers the patient's life. The Commission also emphasised that the present incident highlights the urgent need for an integrated real-time emergency referral system across the State. Modern healthcare administration requires government hospitals to share real-time information regarding the availability of ICU beds, NICU beds; ventilators and other critical care facilities so that critically ill patients are not subjected to avoidable delays by being referred from one hospital to another. The Commission said timely access to emergency medical treatment forms an integral part of the Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. It further observed that Article 47 casts a constitutional obligation upon the State to improve public health and ensure adequate medical facilities for its citizens. Considering the gravity of the allegations and the larger public interest involved, the full bench headed by Justice Lalit Batra has sought detailed reports from the authorities which include existing policy governing emergency neonatal referral and inter-hospital coordination. District-wise availability of NICUs and neonatal ventilators in government hospitals. The Commission has also sought reports on steps taken after the present incident to strengthen emergency neonatal care and prevent recurrence of similar incidents. It asked whether a real-time State-wide monitoring system for ICU, NICU beds and ventilators exists and if not, the proposed timeline for its implementation. The authorities have also been asked to submit details of ventilators lying unused, under repair or non-functional, including those supplied during the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission asked whether any State-level audit of ventilators and other critical care equipment has been conducted during the last two years and corrective measures taken. Dr Puneet Arora, Assistant Registrar, HHRC, said the Commission has directed all authorities concerned to submit their detailed reports at least one week prior to the next date of hearing n September 1. PTI SUN DV DV