SHILLONG, Feb 11: The Health department has decided to compensate a woman who had lost her newborn child after she was reportedly refused admission in Ganesh Das Maternal and Child Hospital.
It may be mentioned that the incident, after coming to light, had not only drawn flak but had put a question mark on the credibility of the state’s healthcare sector.
However, it was after Meghalaya Human Rights Commission’s suo motu intervention and the subsequent inquiry that a compensation of Rs three lakh was announced by the Health department for the woman.
“The Commission had taken sou motu cognizance based on the news item published In The Shillong Times dated 29.07.2020 under the caption ‘Ganesh Das Hospital under cloud after newborn’s death’,” a statement from the MHRC said.
The MHRC had then directed the Chief Secretary to initiate an inquiry into the matter, following which witnesses, along with the victim, were called for evidence collection.
“Considering the matter from all angles, including the trauma and mental agony suffered by and the damage caused to the victim (mother) by losing her child, the full bench of the Commission comprising Chairperson of the Commission, Justice T Vaiphei, members of the Commission, B Giri and PJP Hanaman, in a order passed on 01.11.2021, recommended a compensation of Rs 3 lakh,” the statement said.