Have No Patients Been Bitten by Rats in Shivpuri Hospital? MP Dy CM Addresses Congress Allegations

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rats observed in Madhya Pradesh government hospitals.
- Congress intensifies criticism of the BJP government.
- Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla claims no patient harm reported.
- Effective pest control measures are being implemented.
- Public health safety remains a pressing concern.
Bhopal, Sep 20 (NationPress) Amid growing reports of rats freely navigating through some government hospitals in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress party has intensified its criticism of the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration.
The Congress party has raised alarms over a tragic incident at Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital in Indore, where two newborns tragically lost their lives due to rat bites. The party claims that the state administration has failed to implement necessary measures for safeguarding patients in public healthcare facilities.
Following sightings of rats in additional government hospitals, including the Shivpuri district hospital and the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in Jabalpur, the Congress’s outcry has grown louder.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, Umang Singhar, directed his criticisms at Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who also serves as the Health and Medical Education Minister. Singhar accused Shukla of being “not serious” about addressing the rat problem, which has escalated into a significant concern across several state-run hospitals.
These distressing occurrences paint a bleak picture of the public health system, highlighting the governance of government hospitals, according to the LoP. He pointed to structural issues in a newly built government hospital in Rewa and the inadequate medical facilities at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in the same district as indicators of mismanagement. “When he (Deputy Chief Minister Shukla) can't oversee the situation in his own district, what can we expect from him?” Singhar remarked.
Additionally, the Deputy CM was called out over the drug crisis in Rewa district. “In the Deputy Chief Minister's own city, liquor and Corex are openly sold and consumed, reflecting his incompetence,” Singhar stated during an interaction with IANS in Bhopal.
It is worth noting that Deputy CM Shukla is a prominent figure from the Vindhya region, having secured election to the state Assembly five times since his debut in 2003 without a single loss.
“If they (BJP) cannot manage their own city, how can they oversee hospitals? Dogs and rats are roaming freely while newborns are endangered by rats,” Singhar added.
In response to the allegations regarding rat sightings in the Shivpuri district hospital, Deputy Chief Minister Shukla clarified that while rats were indeed present, “no patients were harmed during the incident.”
“In Shivpuri, no patient was affected. The entire medical college and hospital are currently on high alert. Pest control monitoring has been strengthened, and measures are in place to prevent future occurrences. The entire health department has been instructed and notified,” the Deputy Chief Minister assured IANS.