NHRC issues notices to the Chief Secretary and Secretary, Food and Drug Department, Government of Maharashtra over reported four children testing HIV+ after blood transfusion in Nagpur

New Delhi, 27th May, 2022

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that after blood transfusion, 4 children became HIV positive and one of them died in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Reportedly, they were being treated for Thalassemia for which Nucleic Acid Test, NAT tested blood has to be transfused, but in the absence of the facility, got the contaminated blood.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to human rights violation of the victim children. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, calling for a detailed report in the matter within six weeks.

The report is expected to include action taken or proposed to be taken, against the erring public servants/officials if found guilty. He has also been asked to report if any interim compensation or any further payment of compensation given to the Next of Kin of the deceased child and the treatment initiated by the State for the other victim children.

A notice has also been issued to the Secretary, Food and Drug Department, Government of Maharashtra, to submit its report regarding preliminary investigation and the criminal proceedings initiated in the matter, within six weeks.

According to the media report, carried on 26th May, 2022, State Health Department has started taking action against the culprits, after high level investigation. It is also stated that previously, five children, suffering from Thalassemia, were got infected by Hepatitis C while two children were infected with Hepatitis B.

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