MPs from Chhattisgarh discuss botched surgeries issue with Raman Singh

RAIPUR: The issue of botched tubectomy surgeries in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district was discussed during a meeting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members from the state, chaired by Chief Minister Raman Singh.

Singh yesterday called a meeting of the MPs at his official residence in view of the winter session of Parliament and informed them about steps taken by the state government after the incident which claimed the lives of 13 young women, a senior official here said today.

The MPs raised several questions over the incident which were answered by officials present during the meeting.

Over 130 women who underwent procedures at the state-run sterilisation camps at Pendari (Sakri) village of Takhatpur block on November 8 and at Gaurela, Pendra and Marwahi villages on November 10 were admitted in different hospitals of Bilaspur after they developed post-operative complications, the officials said in the meeting.

Out of the 83 women operated upon at Nemichand Jain Cancer and Research Centre at Pendari, 12 died, while a woman of the protected Baiga tribe died at Pendra block, where around 56 women underwent surgeries at three different camps.

Presently, 17 women are undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital and CIMS (Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Science) while rest of them have been discharged, the official said.

The Chief Minister also informed the MPs that a judicial commission chaired by retired Judge Anita Jha has been set up to probe the incident. The panel had started its work, the official said, adding that Singh has assured stern action against those found guilty after the investigation.

Officials further said that the state government has dismissed from service laproscopic surgeon RK Gupta, who had conducted sterilisation surgeries at Pendari camp, and Chief Medical and Health Official, Bilaspur, R K Bhange who supervised the procedure, for alleged dereliction of duty and negligence.

An FIR was also registered against Gupta following which he was arrested.

Besides, Ramesh Mahawar, the director of drug company Mahawar Pharma Pvt Ltd which allegedly supplied poor quality medicines administered to the victims of sterilisation surgeries, and his son Sumit were arrested and all products of their manufacturing unit have been banned across the state.

As per state Health Minister Amar Agrawal, medical reports have confirmed the presence of poisonous substance in the medicines which were distributed to women at the camps.