NHRC Sends Notice to Madhya Pradesh Over Deaths of Infants from Rat Bites: Lessons for Public Health Governance

By Suryavanshi IAS

Context

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recently issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government after the tragic deaths of two infants at Indore’s Maharaja Yeshwantrao (MY) Hospital, allegedly due to rat bites in the neonatal ICU. The incident has raised serious questions about medical negligence, hospital hygiene, accountability, and the protection of basic human rights in India’s public health infrastructure.

For UPSC aspirants, this case becomes significant because it intersects health governance, ethics, constitutional rights, and administrative accountability—all of which are part of GS Paper II & GS Paper IV.

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The Incident

• On August 30 and 31, 2025, two newborn girls were bitten by rats inside the neonatal ICU at MY Hospital, one of Madhya Pradesh’s largest government hospitals.

• They died on September 2 and 3.

• The hospital administration attributed the deaths to pneumonia and septicaemia, not rat bites.

• However, families alleged gross negligence and concealment of facts.

Following a complaint by the NGO Network for Access to Justice, the NHRC issued a notice on September 5, demanding a report within 10 days.

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Constitutional and Legal Dimensions

1. Article 21 – Right to Life and Health

   • The Supreme Court has consistently expanded Article 21 to include the Right to Health (Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity vs State of West Bengal, 1996).

   • Any failure to provide basic hygiene and safe healthcare violates this fundamental right.

2. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs)

   • Article 39(e): Protection of health of children.

   • Article 47: Duty of the State to improve public health.

3. NHRC’s Role

   • Mandated under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

   • It can issue notices, seek reports, and recommend compensation or systemic reforms.

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Broader Issues Highlighted

1. Public Health Infrastructure Crisis

• Poor hygiene and pest control in one of the biggest hospitals in the State.

• Reflects neglect in basic maintenance and monitoring.

2. Medical Negligence and Accountability

• Hospitals often deflect responsibility by citing pre-existing conditions.

• Lack of transparency with families raises ethical questions.

3. Trust Deficit in Public Healthcare

• Such incidents erode faith in government hospitals, pushing patients towards costly private care.

• This worsens out-of-pocket expenditure, already a major cause of poverty in India.

4. Systemic Governance Issues

• Inadequate staffing, poor hospital management, weak accountability mechanisms.

• Issues of corruption in contracts for cleaning and maintenance.

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Ethical Perspective (GS Paper IV)

• Responsibility of doctors and administrators: The Hippocratic Oath and professional ethics demand prioritizing patient safety.

• Transparency: Families must be informed honestly; hiding facts violates integrity and compassion.

• Public Service Ethics: Lapses indicate a failure in probity in governance.

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Way Forward

1. Strengthening Hospital Administration

   • Appointment of trained hospital managers.

   • Regular hygiene audits and pest-control checks.

2. Legal and Accountability Measures

   • Clear liability for negligence under medical laws.

   • Compensation to affected families.

   • Fixing accountability of hospital authorities.

3. Technological Interventions

   • Use of CCTV, real-time monitoring for sensitive wards.

   • Digital reporting of incidents to higher authorities.

4. Community and Civil Society Role

   • NGOs and local bodies can assist in monitoring hygiene.

   • Patient grievance redressal mechanisms at district level.

5. Policy Measures

   • Increased budgetary allocation to public health (currently ~2% of GDP).

   • Implementation of National Health Policy, 2017 objectives.

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Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants

• GS II (Governance & Polity): Role of NHRC, Article 21, Right to Health, State’s responsibility under DPSPs.

• GS III (Health & Infrastructure): Weakness in public health delivery, need for systemic reforms.

• GS IV (Ethics): Accountability, transparency, integrity in public service.

• Essay Paper: Can be used in topics like “Healthcare is the foundation of human rights” or “Negligence in public services erodes trust in democracy.”

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Conclusion

The Indore hospital tragedy is not an isolated event but a symptom of deeper structural issues in India’s public health system. For aspirants of civil services, this case serves as a reminder that governance is not only about policies but also about ensuring basic dignity, safety, and trust in institutions.

As future administrators, our challenge will be to ensure that such horrifying incidents are not repeated, and that healthcare remains a right, not a gamble with fate.