NHRC notices to the Rajasthan Chief Secretary and the Superintendent of the government-run MDM Hospital in Jodhpur over the reported increasing incidents of rats gnawing on the feet of patients

New Delhi, 4th July, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that the rats are gnawing on the feet of patients in government-run Mathura Das Mathur Hospital, MDMH in Jodhpur. Reportedly, the number of rats has increased to such a large number that in Ward-C of the Psychiatry Department, they bite the feet of four patients.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, indicate the violation of the right to health and medical care of the patients which is a matter of concern for it. Accordingly, it has issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan calling for a detailed report in the matter within 4 weeks including the steps being taken/proposed to be taken to address the grievance of the patients at the MDMH, Jodhpur.

A notice be also issued to Superintendent of Mathura Das Mathur Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan to submit a report with regard to the failure of the public servant, who has allowed this kind of remiss to happen, within 4 weeks.

According to the media report, carried on 3rd July, 2023, the hospital administration has given a contract to an agency at the cost of Rs.27,000/- per month to control the pest and rats, but the rat menace continues unabated.

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