The High Court of Chhattisgarh has considered the death of 40,000 children in the last five years due to lack of oxygen and ventilators in Government hospitals of State, as serious. During the hearing of PIL, the division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Rajni Dubey said that it was clear from the government report that the shortage of beds and ventilators in government hospitals is worrying. There were reports about disorganisation and lack of facilities in government hospitals, according to which 40,000 children aged between 0-5 years have died in last five years.

 

Of these, more than 25,000 children died within just one month of birth. Similarly, the number of still births is also more than 24-thousand. On an average more than eight thousand infants are dying every year in the state. The High Court took cognizance of the reports and the case is being heard as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). During the hearing of this case, the government presented a report in the High Court. The court stated that according to the reports, there is a shortage of oxygen and beds in the government hospitals which is half the requirement. The court has asked the government to present its report after getting it examined by judicial officer.