New Delhi, 22nd July, 2016

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report about the pathetic health care facilities in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh and noted that when even the Collector of the district finds himself helpless, the plight of ordinary people can be imagined very well.
It has issued a notice to the Principal Secretary, Department of Public Health & Family Welfare of the State government, calling for a report in the matter within four weeks. The Commission has observed that is the prime duty of the state to provide medical facilities to everyone. The matter requires special attention of the State government.
According to the media report, carried on the 19th July, 2016, the medical care facilities are in such a bad shape that out of 68 sanctioned posts of senior doctors in the District Hospital, only 16 are filled. It does not have ICU facilities and ends up referring patients to Jabalpur Medical College or Sagar, which are over 100 Km and 75 Km away respectively.
The patients are usually told that there are no ambulances and many end up covering the long distance on their own. The District Collector found himself helpless and lost his ailing mother on the 11th June, 2016 as a lot of precious time was wasted in carrying her to Jabalpur. He reportedly said, "The system is faulty and I am as much responsible for it as others."
Allegedly,there are not many private hospitals in Damoh. The District Hospital does not have anesthetist, eye specialist orthopedist or an ENT specialist. Reportedly, the activists from the area blame the administration for not being sensitive towards the health care facilities for the people despite having funds in rural areas, while the administration claims that the doctors do not want to work in the rural areas.
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